- (1.) THE appellants faced trial for the offences punishable under Sections 304 -B, 498 -A, 406 and 506 of Indian Penal Code (for short 'IPC') and were convicted and sentenced by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Karnal as follows: - JUDGEMENT_781_LAWS(P&H)5_20141.htm
(2.) SALOCHNA Devi, complainant filed a complaint with the allegations that after the death of her husband, she on the suggestion of appellant No.4 Bala Devi, her maternal sister, agreed for marriage of her daughter Rajo Devi (deceased) with appellant No.1 Madan Lal. The marriage was solemnized on 07.11.1997. She gave valuable articles, ornaments, furniture, clothes and other items in the shape of dowry/Istridhan to Rajo Devi by spending an amount of Rs. 1,50,000. The appellants No.1 to 3 were not happy with the dowry articles and the cash given to them and started maltreating and misbehaving with Rajo Devi on this score. They started raising one demand after the other. Rajo Devi apprised the complainant about the behaviour of appellants No.1 to 3 and misrepresentation made by appellant No.4 about her husband and his family. The complainant kept on fulfilling the demands of appellants No.1 to 3 under the impression that one day the better sense shall prevail upon them and with pious hope that her daughter Rajo Devi shall lead a happy married life. Rajo Devi was blessed with a son, who as about ten months old at the time of filing of the complaint on 11.09.2000. As and when Rajo Devi came to visit the house of complainant, she always complained that appellant No.4 had spoiled her life and made it a hell. She (appellant No.4) was aware that appellants No.1 to 3 were not good human being, appellant No.1 was addicted to several bad vices like drinking, gambling etc., still she made wrong representation to get daughter of complainant married in that family. The complainant requested appellant No.4 several times to ask appellants No. 1 to 3 to treat her daughter properly but this had no effect on her. Rather, she stopped talking and coming to her house. The pressure put on appellant No.4 to request appellants No.1 to 3 to behave properly with Rajo Devi, proved counter productive and she (appellant No.4) started misleading and misguiding them (appellants No.1 to 3). In the presence of Rajo Devi, she asked appellants No.1 to 3 "Is Haramjadi Ko Maar Do Taaki Roj Roj Ki Sirdardi Khatam Ho Jaye". Rajo Devi brought this fact to the knowledge of complaint but she kept mum to save her matrimonial life. Appellants No.1 to 3 turned Rajo Devi out of matrimonial home after giving her beatings and raised demand of money on the plea that complainant had received huge amount after the death of her husband. On a number of occasions complainant gave Rs. 4000 and Rs. 5000 to appellants No.1 to 3.
(3.) ON 20.03.2000 appellants No.1 to 3 came to the house of complainant at village Daulatpur and demanded Rs. 10,000 for purchase of secondhand scooter. The complainant expressed her inability to pay the aforesaid amount at which they became aggressive and used filthy language and taunted using words "Kin Bhukhea Nangeao Se Pala Par Gaya Hai Jo Das Hazar Rupee Ve Nahi De Sakte". They threatened the complainant that if she failed to pay Rs. 10,000, her daughter Rajo Devi would not be spared and killed by putting her on fire. The complainant gave Rs. 2,000 to them with the assurance to arrange the remaining amount at later stage. On 30.03.2000 at about 2.30 PM, complainant received a message from her brother Sita Ram, who was running a tea -stall near hospital of Dr. Anil Verma at Ladwa informing her that he had seen Rajo Mehta Sachin Devi lying in the hospital in burnt condition. On coming to know of the incident, complainant along with her brothers -in -law Om Parkash and Rajbir went to the hospital of Dr. Anil Verma at Ladwa. On reaching there, they were informed that Rajo Devi had been referred to PGI, Chandigarh as her condition was serious. The complainant along with Om Parkash and Rajbir rushed to PGI, Chandigarh and on reaching there, she found that the condition of Rajo Devi was very serious. She was in semiconscious condition. On seeing the complainant and her uncles she told them that in the morning, she apprised her husband -appellant No.1 about her desire to go to her parental home but the appellants No.2 and 3 came there and refused to send her. When she insisted for going to Daulatpur, Bala Devi, appellant No.4 came there and exhorted "Aaaj Is Haramjadi Ko Ghar Ka Sidha Rasta Dikha Do". Appellant No.4 brought the stove from kitchen. Kura Ram and Kamla Devi appellants No.2 and 3 caught Rajo Devi while her husband appellant No.1 sprinkled kerosene oil on her and then set her on fire in the bedroom. This incident took place at about 10.00 AM. The appellants did not try to save her or provide her medical aid. They waited till Rajo Devi became unconscious and thereafter, instead of taking her to CHC Indri, brought her to hospital of Dr. Anil Verma at Ladwa after about four hours of the incident. Rajo Devi died in PGI, Chandigarh on 4.4.2000.;