SIDHU Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The sole accused in SC.72/2006 and the sole appellant in CA.54/2006 is the revision petitioner herein. This criminal revision is filed against his conviction and sentence imposed on her for the offence under section 304B IPC passed by the trial court as confirmed by the lower appellate court.

(2.) The accused is charged for the offence as referred to above on the basis of the complaint given by PW1 -B.T.Perumal, who is none else than the father of the deceased Lakshmi and grand father of 1= years old minor child of the deceased Lakshmi. The marriage of Lakshmi and one Kumar of Erumampatti, who is the son of one Shanmugam was solemnized on 12.9.1999 according to Hindu Customary rights and rituals. After the marriage, Lakshmi started living in her matrimonial house and she gave birth to girl child by name Lavanya in the course of her wed lock. While so, at about 4pm, on 25.6.2002 she along with her daughter were found drown in Krishnagiri K.R.P Dam and died. Thereafter, the complaint came to be lodged by PW1 against the petitioner herein and the same was registered in Crime No.697/2002 on the file of Krishnagiri Taluk Police Station and culminated in S.C.No.72/2006 arising out of which is the present criminal revision before this court.

(3.) The charges framed against the accused are that the present petitioner is the second wife of Shanmugam and step mother of Kumar and step mother -in -law of the deceased lakshmi and after the marriage between Lakshmi and Kumar, all of them have been living jointly. While so, the petitioner had been harassing and ill treating Lakshmi by demanding her to get one motor cycle and 10 sovereigns of gold jewels as dowry and she was persistent in her demand since one year prior to 25.6.2002, and Lakshmi was beaten by the petitioner by using broom and sifter/sieve. The deceased Lakshmi, unbearable with her harassment and cruelty committed suicide with her minor daughter on 25.6.2002. Both the courts below have, by believing the prosecution case, found the accused guilty of the offence as referred to above and convicted and sentenced her for the same. Hence, this criminal revision by the accused before this court.