GORRE DHARMA REDDY Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is filed by the accused Nos. 1 to 3 against judgment dated 29.11.2006 passed by the Ill-Additional Sessions Judge, Karimnagar in S.C. No. 239 of 2006 by which the lower court convicted Al to A3 under Section 304B IPC and sentenced them to imprisonment for life; convicted them un-der Section 498A IPC and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for three years and fine of Rs. 1,000 each; convicted them under Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and sentenced them to rigorous impris-onment for five years and fine of Rs. 1,65,000 each; and convicted them under zof the Dowry Prohibition Act and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for two years and fine of Rs. 500 each; and also di-rected that total fine amount of Rs. 4,95,000 imposed under Section 3 of the Dowry Pro-hibition Act, shall be paid to PW1 towards compensation.

(2.) It is alleged that about six months prior to date of the offence, marriage of Anitha with Al was performed and that at the time of marriage, PW1 father of Anitha gave Rs. 5,00,000, Hero Honda Motorcycle, 12 tolas of gold, half tola of gold ring and wrist watch to Al and gave Rs. 25,000 towards Adapaduchu Katnam'. A2 and A3 are par-ents of Al. Al was working as teacher in private school viz., Gnana Jyothi in his vil-lage Sreeramulapalli of Kamalapur Mandal. It is alleged that after two months of mar-riage, Al to A3 started harassing Anitha demanding to bring additional dowry of Rs. 5,00,000 or Ac. 3.00 of land located road side in Mucherla Nagaram village of her parents and that about four months ago they drove her out of house, when Anitha came to her parents' house and narrated the ha-rassment and that when PW1 along with his brother PW6 and PW16 took Anitha to the accused and enquired, Al to A3 bluntly asked them to pay Rs.5,00,000 or give Ac. 3.00 of land as additional dowry and that PW1 assured them to fulfil their demand by Ugadi festival and left the deceased in house of the accused. It is further alleged that on 1.11.2004, the deceased informed PW1 over telephone about A1 to A3 harass-ing and ill-treating her mentally and physi-cally with the same demand and about she informing the same to her sister PW4 and brother-in-law PW5 over cell phone. While so, on 2.11.2004, Anitha committed suicide by hanging in house of the accused, alleg-edly because of harassment and ill-treat-ment of the accused for additional dowry.

(3.) The lower court framed charges against Al to A3 for offences punishable under Sec-tions 498A, 304B or alternatively 306 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibi-tion Act. Al to A3 pleaded not guilty of the charges in the lower court. During trial in the lower court, the prosecution examined PWs 1 tol9 and marked Exs.Pl to P16 and MOs 1 to 4. Ex.Dl was marked on behalf of the accused.