VINEET VATS Vs. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In the night intervening 6/7.2.2000, deceased Vimmi was brought by the appellant, who is her husband, to Sodhi Nursing Home, she having consumed insecticide. Vimmi died in the aforesaid nursing home. Since, Vimmi died within seven (7) years of marriage, the concerned SDM was informed, who reached the spot and recorded the statement of Shri Ram Kumar Sharma, father of the deceased. In the aforesaid statement, Shri Ram Kumar Sharma inter alia stated that his daughter Vimmi @ Vimla was married to the appellant Vineeet Vats on 9.11.1995. He further stated that on being informed by his son-in-law at about 5:00 a.m., he reached Sodhi Nursing Home where his daughter was found dead. He alleged that Vimmi had been murdered by her father-in-law, Gyan Chand; mother-in-law, Kamla; and brother-in-law, Sunit @ Kalu. He also alleged that earlier the aforesaid three persons used to beat his daughter and harass her in connection with dowry. He desired legal action against the aforesaid three persons as well as against the appellant Vineet though there was no allegation of cruelty or maltreatment against him.

(2.) On 8.2.2000, the SDM recorded the statement of Smt. Santosh Sharma, mother of the deceased. In the aforesaid statement she inter alia stated that after April, 1997, her daughter and son-in-law were turned out of the matrimonial home of her daughter, by her in-laws, who asked them to bring Rs.3.00 lakh from the parents of Vimmi. Thereafter, both of them came to her and she got them a house on rent in Ashok Vihar. The pagri (premium) for taking the aforesaid house on rent was paid by her. She alleged that even thereafter the brother, etc. of her son-in-law used to beat her daughter. She claimed that they kept on paying money to her son-in-law who thereafter said that he needed a car for his business, whereupon they spent Rs.2.00 lakh for purchase of a car for him. She further stated that her son-in-law then sold the car and deposited the sale proceeds in FDR. She thereafter got them another premises on rent in Guru Harkishan Nagar, Pashchim Vihar. She also alleged that they used to meet the expenditure of her daughter and son-in-law.

(3.) Smt. Santosh Sharma alleged that her younger daughter Usha got married on 9.12.1999, seeing which the appellant complained that lesser expenditure had been incurred on his marriage and wanted a similar amount to be given to him. She further alleged that Vimmi came to meet her on 13.12.1999, and she gave Rs.20,000/- to her, promising to pay the rest of the amount at a later date. She further alleged that on 6.2.2000, she received a telephone call from Vimmi, informing her that they were going to change the house. On 07.02.2000 at 5:00 a.m. they received a telephone call from the appellant who started weeping on the telephone and called them. When they reached the nursing home they came to know that Vimmi had already expired. She also alleged that when they reached the hospital, the appellant confessed that he had poisoned Vimmi and expressed willingness to be punished for his act. She also alleged that the appellant had apologized to the dead body of Vimmi. She specifically alleged that Vimmi had been poisoned by her son-in-law and his friends.