SANTHOSH Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioners seek anticipatory bail on the allegation that they have been arrayed as accused Nos.1 to 4 in Crime No.489/2006 of Harippad Police Station for offences punishable under secs.498A and 406 read with sec.34IPC.

(2.) The learned Public Prosecutor on instructions submitted that petitioners 1 to 3 alone are the surviving accused since the 4th petitioner who was originally the 4th accused has since been deleted from the array of accused. The marriage between the 1st petitioner and Vineetha, the de facto complainant, took place only on 12.5.2006. Within a short span of post-marital life there has been demand for more dowry resulting in Vineetha leaving the matrimonial home and taking refuge in her own parental house. Such being the position, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the 1st petitioner. In the case of petitioners 2 and 3 who are accused Nos.2 and 3 I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail.

(3.) Accordingly, a direction is issued to the officer-in-charge of the police station concerned to release petitioners 2 and 3 on bail for a period of one month in the event of their arrest in connection with the above case on each of them executing a bond for Rs. 10,000/- (Ten thousand only) with two solvent sureties each for the like amount to the satisfaction of the said officer and subject to the following conditions:-