CHANDRAN AND ORS. Vs. THE STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The convictions and sentences dated 26.06.2007 passed in Sessions Case No.168 of 2006 by the Mahila Court, Salem are being challenged in the present Criminal Appeal.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that the second accused is wife of the brother of the first accused. The first accused has married the deceased Easwari on 16.09.2004 as per Caste Custom. At the time of marriage, she has been given 9 sovereign of gold jewels and other household articles. The first accused is having illicit intimacy with the second accused and both of them have demanded one sovereign of gold ring to the first accused from the deceased. Since the deceased has not been able to tolerate the torture given by both accused, she committed suicide on 03.01.2005 in the house of the first accused. After occurrence, the father of the deceased as defacto complainant has given a complaint and the same has been registered in Crime No.30 of 2005. The complaint given by the defacto complainant has been marked as Ex.P.1.

(3.) On the receipt of Ex.P1, the investigating officer viz PW.11 has taken up investigation, examined connected witnesses and in the meanwhile, the concerned Revenue Divisional Officer (PW.8) has conducted inquest and his report has been marked as Ex.P3. The investigating officer has given a requisition for conducting autopsy on the body of the deceased and accordingly, Dr.Vallinayakam(PW.9) has conducted autopsy and he found the following external and internal injuries.