RAGHAVENDRA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant has preferred this appeal aggrieved by the impugned judgment of conviction dated 21.11.2017 and order of sentence dated 28.11.2017 passed by the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, Uttara Kannada, Karwar (hereinafter referred to as the 'trial Court') in S.C.No.59/2009, whereunder the accused is convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act and under Section 498(A) , 304(B) and 302 of IPC.

(2.) Heard the learned advocate Sri.J.S.Shetty for the appellant through video conference and learned Addl.SPP Sri.V.M.Banakar for respondent-State, who is physically present before the Court.

(3.) It is the contention of the prosecution that deceased Shobha was given in marriage to the accused on 08.04.2009 and after the marriage, she started residing in her matrimonial house. At the time of marriage, several gold and silver articles, utensils and clothes were given as per the demand by the accused. They have also paid cash to the accused as per his demand. But in spite of that, accused was demanding for additional dowry and used to harass the deceased, both physically and mentally. The deceased, who could not tolerate the cruelty by the accused, committed suicide on 23.06.2009 between 5.30 to 6.00 pm in the house of the accused. In this regard, PW9-the brother of the deceased, lodged first information as per Ex.P12 with the police, against the accused and the FIR was registered in Crime No.92/2009 of Karwar town police station. After investigation, the charge sheet was filed against the accused for the above said offence.