STATE OF KARNATAKA Vs. K YARAPPA REDDY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A love affair got swerved to the wrong side and sank into tragedy. The female partner in the affair, as it often happens, became the victim of the tragedy. Rekha, a working woman and Yarappa Reddy, the respondent - a milk trader - were the participants in the ill-fated romantic adventure. Rekha was badly mauled to death on the morning of the Martyrs Day (30th January) of 1982 for which the respondent-Yarappa Reddy was indicted by the police. Sessions Court convicted him, but the High Court acquitted him. Thus the present appeal at the instance of the State by special leave.

(2.) Rekha was put up in a college hostel at Bangalore while she was doing her B.A. As she failed in the final examinations her father put her up in the house of a relative for prosecuting her studies. That relative's daughter Anitha (P.W. 8) became her friend. Respondent-Yarappa Reddy was living a few yards away from the house of P.W. 8. Respondent developed a fascination for Rekha which in due course snowballed into a love affair. They exchanged love letters between each other. In the meantime Rekha got a job as Receptionist in a company called "Azad Coach Builders." She was later promoted as Cashier.

(3.) The love affair initially was on cloud nine, but as days passed it did not sail smooth. One of the love letters happened to reach Rekha's father. He took his daughter to task and wangled a promise from her that she would not do coquetry towards respondent and that she would not marry any one against the wishes of her parents.