STATE OF MAHARASHTRA Vs. MADHUKAR NANA GHADGE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By the present appeal, the appellant/ State seeks to assail the judgment and order dtd. 18/4/2006 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Thane, in Sessions Case No.68 of 2005, whereby the respondents/accused came to be acquitted of the offences punishable under Ss. 498A and 306 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

(2.) The prosecution case, in brief, is that the deceased, Nirmala, was married to Vikas Ghadge on 25/3/2003 and thereafter began residing with her husband and the present respondents at her matrimonial home. At the time of the marriage, the parents of the deceased presented certain gold ornaments and household articles in accordance with prevailing social customs. The prosecution alleges that the accused persons were dissatisfied with the articles so given and, on that account, subjected the deceased to repeated taunts and mental harassment, contending that she had not brought additional articles such as a mixer, mattress and other household goods. It is further alleged that the accused persistently pressurised the deceased to procure money and additional articles from her parental home.

(3.) According to the prosecution, on 9/12/2004 the deceased telephoned her mother, Indumati, requesting her to visit the matrimonial home. When Indumati arrived, the deceased is stated to have informed her that her in-laws frequently taunted her by remarking that Vikas would have received a larger dowry had he married another woman. The prosecution contends that such remarks caused the deceased considerable mental distress and anguish.