ARVIND KUMAR,J - (1.) THE instant appeal is directed against the judgment and order dated 30.3.2006 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Barnala whereby in case F.I.R. No. 60 of 30.5.1996, registered under Sections 304-B/34 1.P.C., at police station Tapa, the appellants have been convicted under Sections 498-A and 304-B of Indian Penal Code. Accused-appellant Ranjit Singh has been sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life whereas accused-appellant Baldev Kaur has been awarded rigorous imprisonment for 10 years for committing an offence under Section 304-B I.P.C. and both of them have been further sentenced to undergo imprisonment for two years with a fine of Rs. 2000/- each, in default thereof to undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months under Section 498-A I.P.C. The substantive sentences were ordered to be run concurrently.
(2.) THE facts necessary for the disposal of the instant appeal may be noticed first. On 30.5.1996 informant Bahadur Singh got recorded his statement to A.S.I. Gurcharan Singh, police station Tapa to the effect that he had performed marriage of his daughter Jaswinder Kaur with Ranjit Singh @ Makhan son of Raghbir, resident of Roorki Kalan in the month of January 1996. He gave 14 tolas gold, Rs. 55000/- cash, one scooter, fridge, cooler, sofa set, bed, almirah etc. as dowry. In total he spent a sum of Rs. 1.5 lacs in the said marriage and fulfilled all the demands so raised by Raghbir Singh, father-in- law of his daughter. Even after about seven days of the marriage, when his daughter came to her parental house, then she told him about the demand of money as "Shagun", upon which he handed over her a sum of Rs. 8000/-, which she further handed over to her husband Ranjit Singh. The complainant Bahadur Singh in his statement further narrated that as to how when his daughter again came to them after 20 days of the marriage, she told them about the demand put by her-in-laws of more articles and pursuant thereto he again purchased articles worth Rs. 1500/- and dropped them at the house of his daughter at Roorki Kalan. The complainant also goes on stating about the other demand made by in-laws of his daughter qua the articles of good quality, as the earlier purchased articles were not up to their satisfaction. The complainant Bahadur Singh further mentioned the episode of 29.5.1998 when his wife Gurmail Kaur went to the house of in-laws of her daughter at village Roorki Kalan, where Jaswinder Kaur narrated her about the harassment received by her at the hands of her in-laws on account of their demand of a car and apprehending that she might be killed by her in-laws and requested to take along with her. However, his wife consoled her daughter and came to her house at village Kale Ka. He further mentioned that on 30.5.1996 at about 3.30 p.m. they came to know about the death of their daughter Jaswinder Kaur and on reaching village Roorki Kalan, they found dead body of their daughter Jaswinder Kaur lying on a cot in the courtyard of her in-laws house with injuries on her person. He suspected that Raghbir Singh, father-in-law, Baldev Kaur, mother-in-law, Raj Kaur, sister-in-law and Ranjit Singh, husband of Jaswinder Kaur have murdered his daughter.
(3.) ON the basis of the statement, F.I.R. No. 60 dated 30.5.1996 (Ex.PE) for an offence under Section 304-B/34 I.P.C. was registered at police station Tapa, District Sangrur.;