STATE OF GUJARAT Vs. KESHUBHAI LAKHABHAI & 3

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Is An Appeal Preferred By The State Of Gujarat, under Section 378 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, against the judgment and order of acquittal dated 6.6.2005, recorded by the Presiding Officer, Fast Track Court No.3, Gondal, in Sessions Case No.123 of 1996.

(2.) It Is The Case Of The Prosecution That The Marriage between the deceasedKanchanben and accused No.1 Keshubhai Lakhabhai took place four years prior from the date of incident and since that day the deceased was staying with her inlaws in a joint family. The accused No.1husband, motherinlaw, brotherinlaw and sisterinlaw (Jethani) of the deceased started quarreling and beating the deceased under the pretext that the deceased was not liked by them. On account of the continuous harassment of the accused, on 3.2.1996, the deceased committed suicide by pouring kerosene on herself and her small son and setting herself with her son on fire. Accordingly, a complaint for the offences punishable under Sections 498(A), 306, 176 read with Section 114 of the IPC, was filed before Kotada Sangani Police Station.

(3.) In Pursuance Of The Aforesaid Complaint, The Police recorded the statements of the witnesses and after completion of investigation, filed chargesheet which came to be committed to the learned trial Court.