P KRISHNA MURTHY Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The husband and the mother-in-law of one P. Renuka (hereinafter referred to as "the deceased") have been tried for the offences punishable under Ss. 306 and 498A, I.P.C. on the allegations that on 15-5-1984 in the morning at Hari Nagar, Hyderabad, they have abetted the deceased to commit suicide, as a result of which she jumped into the waters of the filter house at Nagarjunasagar and put end to her life, and that the harassment and illtreatment of A1 and A2 demanding the deceased to get more dowry has resulted in the said suicide. The learned I Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge has come to the conclusion that the prosecution has failed to prove the case against A2 for both the charges framed against her and that the prosecution has failed to prove its case under S. 306, I.P.C. against A1. He has, therefore, acquitted both A1 and A2 for the offence punishable under S. 306, I.P.C. and A2 for the offence punishable under S. 498A, I.P.C. He has, however, convicted A1 under S. 498A, I.P.C. and sentenced him to suffer R.I. for a period of one year and also pay a fine of Rs. 2,000.00 and in default to suffer S.I. for three months.

(2.) Aggrieved by the said conviction and sentence, A1 has preferred the above appeal.

(3.) The deceased is the third daughter of P.W. 1 and her marriage with A1 was celebarated in the year 1983. The happy married life of the deceased with A1 was short-lived because shortly after marriage, A1 and A2, who are the husband and the mother-in-law of the deceased, started harassing and torturing the deceased on the ground that she did not bring dowry and valuables up to their expectations. The prosecution case is that the deceased used to inform about the harassment and torture meted out to her to her parents. But, because of their poverty, the parents of the deceased could not fulfil the demands of the accused.