STATE AND ORS. Vs. MEERABAI AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) CRIMINAL Appeal No. 1150/2011 is filed by the State against the Judgment and Order of acquittal dated 23.6.2011 passed by the Sessions Court, Bengaluru in S.C. No. 73/2011.

(2.) CRIMINAL Appeal Nos. 1181/2011, 454/2011 and 455/2011 are directed against the Judgment and Order dated 30th July 2010 passed by the Sessions Court, Bengaluru in S.C. No. 473/2009.

(3.) CASE of the prosecution in brief is that deceased Lakshmidevi (daughter of P.Ws. 1 and 2) married Accused No. 1 on 12.11.2008; their marriage was performed at Vasavi Kalyana Mantap situated at Main Road of K.R. Puram, Bangalore; the marriage was attended by about 600 persons; the expenses for the marriage were borne by the accused; however the parents of the deceased had contributed Rs. 25,000/ - towards marriage expenses; at the time of marriage, the parents of the deceased had given certain gold ornaments to both bride and bridegroom; after the marriage i.e., at the time of 'Thali Shastra', which generally takes place as per customs of the parties, the parents of the deceased had volunteered to give certain articles/utensils to the family of the accused; since the accused started demanding more items than agreed by the parents of the deceased, such proposal was not acceded to by the parents of the deceased and in that regard, the accused used to harass the deceased. It is the further case of the prosecution that the deceased was a pure vegetarian, whereas the accused was non -vegetarian; though the accused had agreed not to pressurize the deceased to prepare and eat non -vegetarian food, they started pressurizing the deceased to prepare and eat non -vegetarian food and in that regard the deceased was disgusted; though repeated requests were made by the deceased and her family members, the conduct of the accused did not mould and hence at about 6.30 p.m. on 25.1.2009, the deceased Lakshmidevi committed suicide by hanging herself with the help of her veil to iron rod of bed room window in her matrimonial house.