ABDUL RASHEED Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellant/accused No.1 feeling aggrieved by the judgment of conviction and order of sentence passed by Sessions Judge, Haveri, in S.C.No.51/2009 dtd. 3/4/2012, preferred this appeal.

(2.) Parties to the appeal are referred with their ranks as assigned in the trial Court for the sake of convenience.

(3.) The factual matrix leading to the case of prosecution can be stated in nutshell to the effect that accused No.1 and deceased Sangeetha, were working as police constables in Adur police station and she was a widow having female child. Accused No.1 and Sangeetha were residing in the police quarters at Adur and their marriage was registered on 1/8/2008. After 3 months of their marriage, accused No.1 started ill-treating and harassing his wife for demand of dowry of Rs.2.00 lakhs and 80 grams of gold. When she expressed her inability, she was forced to quit her job and convert to their community, further was also asking her to take care of his parents or to give divorce. In furtherance of such intention, accused No.1 started harassing Sangeetha both physically and mentally and extended cruelty in the presence of other staff. Accused No.1 gave Gardenal tablet asking Sangeetha to die along with her child, as he intended to marry another girl of his community. Accused Nos.2 to 8 joined accused No.1 in abetting her to commit suicide by taking Gardenal tablet. On account of unbearable ill-treatment, she gave Gardenal tablet in Rasna juice to her daughter who died in the house and herself consumed the tablet to commit suicide. She was shifted to hospital for treatment, but she died on 17/4/2009 in the hospital and her death was within 7 years of marriage. On these allegations, complaint was filed and the Investigating Officer after completion of investigation, filed the charge-sheet.