STATE OF MAHARASHTRA Vs. MANOJ SHAMRAO PATIL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal impugning the judgment and order dtd. 20/10/2003 passed by the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Satana, Nashik, acquitting the accused/respondents of the offence punishable under Sec. 498-A read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code (for short, 'IPC").

(2.) It is the case of the prosecution that the complainant is the wife of accused No.1, and they got married on 26/5/1995 at Nampur. After the marriage, the complainant went for co-habitation. The accused No.2 and 3 are the complainant's in-law, accused No.4 is brother-in-law, and accused No.5 and 6 are sisters-in-law. Initially, all accused treated her well for a few days. However, accused No.1 started asking her to bring Rs.20,000.00 from her parents for her service, which she refused to do so. Consequently, all the accused started ill-treating her on that count. They also ill-treated her as sufficient dowry was not given in the marriage, and they were not properly honoured. They also ill-treated her because she was not doing household work properly and asked her to bring Rs.20,000.00 from her parents if she wanted to co-habit.

(3.) It is also alleged that accused No.2 assaulted and abused her. During her co-habitation period, the complainant sent letters to her father on 31/8/1995, 8/10/1995, 10/10/1995 and 24/3/1996 mentioning the ill-treatment.