ANITA CHAUDHRY, J. - (1.) Petitioners Ranjit Singh, Gurmeet Kaur, Sinder Kaur @ Surinder Kaur and Mukand Singh have filed the instant petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. seeking quashing of complaint titled as Hardeep Kaur Vs. Avtar Singh and others, under Sections 406, 498-A and 506 read with Section 34 IPC, pending before SDJM, Jagraon and consequent proceedings arising therefrom.
(2.) The facts as they appear in the petition are noticed first. Respondent No.2 was married to Avtar Singh on 01.02.2003 and a girl was born. Petitioners No.1 and 2 are the parents of Avtar Singh, petitioner No.4 is his brother and petitioner No.3 is wife of petitioner No.4.
(3.) A complaint was filed in the Court by respondent No.2 containing the allegations that sufficient dowry was given in the marriage and her istridhan consisting of gold and silver jewellery was handed over to the accused with the assurance to give the same to the complainant on reaching the matrimonial home. The accused were not happy with the dowry and they started harassing and maltreating her. The complainant was pressurized to bring more dowry from her parents. Constrained with the circumstances, her parents transferred half acre of land in the name of Avtar Singh, but that did not satisfy them. It was alleged that in the month of June, 2005 she was turned out of the house, but the matter was compromised with the intervention of Panchayat. But there was no change in the behaviour of the accused and in January, 2006 she was again turned out from the matrimonial home and the accused refused to rehabilitate the complainant till their demand of dowry was fulfilled. The accused also retained her istridhan and refused to return the same. The matter was reported to the police, but no action was taken. Consequently, the complaint was filed in the Court on 20.05.2006 against the petitioners and Avtar Singh.;