STATE OF MAHARASHTRA Vs. SADHANA SURESH JADHAV

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Appeal is filed by the State challenging the judgment and order of acquittal dated 12th March, 2002 passed in Sessions Case No. 989 of 1996 by 1st Ad-hoc Additional Sessions Judge, Kalyan, for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 498A read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 ( for short "IPC").

(2.) It is the case of prosecution that informant's daughter viz., Shaila (since deceased) was married to accused Sunil Dunda Jadhav (A-3) in the month of April 1990. She was treated well for about six months after the marriage. However, thereafter, accused Smt.Anusaya Dunda Jadhav - mother-in-law (A-2), Sadhana Suresh Jadhav - sister-in-law (A-1), Subhash Dunda Jadhav and A3 started harassing, abusing and beating her on account of domestic affairs. Even 21/2 years prior to the lodging of report, all the accused had tried to set deceased on fire by pouring kerosene on her person and since then the deceased had started residing with her parents.

(3.) According to prosecution, however, on 16th September 1993 with the interventions of some advocates and others, accused assured that hereinafter they would treat the deceased properly and therefore, the deceased was sent to her conjugal home. She was treated well for about 1 to 11/2 month and thereafter, again A-1 and A-2 started abusing and beating the deceased and asking her to bring monies from her father for household expenses. The informant-father had paid Rs.3000/- to the deceased.