MYGAPULLA SATYANARAYANA Vs. STATE OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) MYGAPULA Satyanarayana, accused No, 1, who is the sole appellant, filed the present criminal appeal, aggrieved by the conviction and sentence imposed by the learned II Additional Sessions Judge, West Godavari, Eluru, in Sessions Case No. 348 of 1997 dated 25.9.1998.

(2.) THE case of the prosecution is that one Venkata Satyavathi, aged 19 years, is the daughter of Borra Nageswara Rao and Borra Seetharatnam, A -1 is the son of A -2 and A -3. A -4 is the daughter of A -2 and A -3 and sister of A -1. A -1 is the husband of the deceased. A -2 and A -3 are father -in -law and mother -in -law of the deceased respectively. The marriage between Mygapula Satyavathi and A -1 was celebrated on 25.1.1996 at the temple of Lord Venkateswaraswamy situated at Annavarappadu village of Peravali Mandal. At the time of marriage, Borra Nageswara Rao agreed to pay Rs. 20,000/ - as dowry to the accused, as per the demand of the accused. But due to insufficient funds, he gave Rs. 10,000/ -, at the time of the marriage as dowry amount, besides paying necessary lanchanams to A -1 and requested him that he will pay the balance amount in due course. After that, A -1 along with A -2 and A -4, brought the deceased to Duvva village, where A -1 and the deceased continued their marital life peacefully for three months in A -2's house at Duvva. After three months, A -1 started harassment and tortured the deceased, both mentally and physically, and started beating her for bringing the balance dowry amount of Rs. 10,000/ -. A -2 to A -4 strongly supported A -1 end for this object they used criminal force and physical harassment over the deceased for dowry. The parents of the deceased convinced the deceased that they will pay the balance dowry amount soon and asked to go to Duvva on several occasions, whenever the deceased used to visit Malleswaram to the house of her parents. A -1 developed illicit intimacy with one Lakshmi of Duvva village, and went way with her for one month and returned to Duvva 15 days prior to the date of present offence. After his return, the accused started harassing the deceased abnormally for that promised amount and for getting more dowry from her parents. A -3 and A -4 who are mother -in -law and sister -in -law of the deceased used to harass the deceased for petty matters, as well as for more dowry. A -2 sported the acts of A -3 and A -4. A -1 warned the deceased to bring Rs. 10,000/ - from her parents otherwise he will go in marriage with another lady for more dowry. The deceased disgusted over her life and decided to put an end to her life. On the night of 29.4.1997, the deceased consumed some pesticide poison at the house of he; in -laws in Duvva village and fell down on the floor, and while struggling for life, A -1 to A -3 took her to the local private doctor and he refused to give treatment and advised them to go to Government Hospital. Then, A -1 to A -3 took the deceased to the hospital of Dr. Bharathi Devi at Tanuku. By that time, the deceased took her last breath.

(3.) HEARD Mr. C. Praveen Kumar, the learned Counsel representing the appellant and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor.