MANIKYALA PRASAD Vs. STATE OF A P REP

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal preferred by the accused in S.C.No.177 of 2000 on the file of the Assistant Sessions Judge, Nalgonda. The trial Court, through its judgment dated 20th September 2001, convicted the appellants for the offence under Section 304B IPC and sentenced them to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) for 10 years and to pay a fine of Rs.500/- each; in default to undergo Simple Imprisonment (SI) for 2 months.

(2.) The case of the prosecution was that the marriage of deceased Rama Devi, daughter of P.Ws.1 and 2, was performed with A1, some time during March 1998. A2 and A3 are the parents of A1. At the time of marriage, P.Ws. 1 and 2 are said to have given 1 acre of land towards dowry. After the marriage, A1 and his wife Rama Devi lived peacefully. About 6 months thereafter, the accused are said to have asked the deceased to sell the land given at the time of marriage and bring the sale proceeds thereof. The accused are alleged to have harassed Rama Devi physically and mentally for selling the said piece of land. She was sent to her parents place for that purpose. P.Ws. 1 and 2 had consoled her and sent back to the place of accused, stating that it would take some time for them to sell the land. Rama Devi was sent to her parents place once again for the same purpose.

(3.) At that time, Panchayat was held in the presence of P.W.3 and another person. The accused were asked not to indulge in harassing Rama Devi and ultimately she was sent to the place of the accused. In our about July 1999, A1 to A3 are alleged to have bet Rama Devi and asked her to leave the place, to bring the amount after selling the land. Having been vexed with the harassment caused to her, Rama Devi consumed poison on the midnight of 10-9-1999 and died instantly.