BENSON BABY AUGUSTIN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an application for anticipatory bail filed under Sec. 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

(2.) The petitioners are the accused in crime No.1140/2023 of the Kumily Police Station. The offences alleged were under Ss. 294(b), 354A, 385, 406 and 498A read with Sec. 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

(3.) The prosecution case is as follows: the first petitioner married the defacto complainant on 20/8/2014 and while they were residing together as husband and wife, she was subjected to cruelty and harassment on several occasions. Accused Nos.2 and 3 are the parents of the first petitioner. They also used to torture the defacto complainant with a view to extract more money from the defacto complainant. While so, on a day in May 2022, the first petitioner strangulated the defacto complainant using a shawl. The further allegations are the petitioners misappropriated the gold ornaments and money belonging to the defacto complainant.