SURESHA NAIK Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Crl.A. No.304 of 2012 is directed against the judgment of conviction rendered by the Fast Track Court at Puttur, in S.C. No.167 of 2010 dated 13.12.2011 whereby the appellant-accused is found guilty of the offences punishable under Sections 498A and 302 of Indian Penal Code and Sections 3, 4 and 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for two years and fine of Rs. 5000/- for the offence punishable under Section 498A of I.P.C.; life imprisonment and fine of Rs. 20,000/ - for the offence punishable under Section 302 of I.P.C.; simple imprisonment for one year and fine of Rs. 5000/- for the offence punishable under Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act; rigorous imprisonment for six months and fine of Rs. 3,000/- for the offence punishable under Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act; and rigorous imprisonment for three months and fine of Rs. 2,000/- for the offence punishable under Section 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and all the sentences are ordered to run concurrently.

(2.) Crl.A. No.308 of 2012 is preferred by the State, seeking enhancement of sentence for the offence under Section 3 of Dowry Prohibition Act.

(3.) The prosecution case as unfolded during trial is that on 1.05.2010, a complaint was lodged by the father of the deceased alleging that his elder daughter by name Geetha Bai was given in marriage to the accused and at the time of marriage, a sum of Rs. 12,000/- in cash and one gold finger ring and earrings were given to the accused as dowry, but three months after the marriage, the accused started pestering the deceased asking her to bring more money from her parents and in this regard number of panchayaths were conducted. On 01.05.2010 at about 12 noon, the complainant was informed that his daughter died by hanging. Immediately he along with his relatives rushed to the house of the accused and found the dead body of his daughter in the hut belonging to the accused.