STATE OF GUJARAT Vs. PARMAR NATWARBHAI NARSINBHAI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE present appeal, under section 378 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, is directed against the judgment and order of acquittal dated 29.4.2002 passed by the learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Mehsana in Sessions Case No. 18/1997 whereby, the learned trial Judge acquitted the original accused the respondents herein, of the charges for the offence punishable under Section 498 -A and 306 read with section 114 of IPC.

(2.) THE brief facts of the prosecution case are that the deceased Kalavati was married to Natwarbhai Narsinhbhai Parmar. The accused no. 2 is the father -in -law of the deceased, accused no. 3 is the mother -in -law, accused no. 4 is the elder brother -in -law of the deceased and accused no. 5 is the elder sister -in -law of the deceased. That the accused off and on demanded money by way of dowry and as the demand could not be satisfied, they started harassing the deceased mentally and physically. As the harassment continued, she decided to end her life by taking pesticides and thereby she committed suicide. On these facts, the complaint was lodged. Necessary investigation was carried out and statements of several witnesses were recorded. During the course of investigation, respondents were arrested and, ultimately, charge -sheet was filed against them, which was numbered as Sessions Case No. 18/1997. The trial was initiated against the respondents.

(3.) TO prove the case against the present accused, the prosecution has examined six witnesses and also produced nine documentary evidence.