ARUNA BAI Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD the learned Counsel appearing for the petitioners (A2 to A6), the learned Counsel appearing for the second respondent/de facto complainant and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor representing the State. The petitioners (A2 to A6) and the first accused were charge -sheeted for the offences punishable under Sections 323, 406, 498 -A of I.P.C., and Sections 4 and 5 of Dowry Prohibition Act.

(2.) THE present criminal petition is filed by the petitioner (A2 to A6) under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., to quash the charge -sheet in CC No. 77 of 2011 on the file of the XIII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad insofar as the petitioners are concerned.

(3.) IT is alleged against the first petitioner (A2) specifically that she used to sleep in the bedroom along with the de facto complainant on the cot, whereas the first accused used to sleep in the hall. When the complainant asked for privacy to lead conjugal life with her husband, the petitioners and first accused informed her that unless she brings additional dowry of Rs. 5.00 lakhs, she cannot have exclusive bedroom. According to the complainant, when she conceived, they never bothered to take her to the doctor and that the 5th petitioner (A6) in the month of April, 2009 once again instigated A1 to A5 to pressurise the de facto complainant to get additional dowry of Rs. 5.00 lakhs from her parents in view of her pregnancy. In that connection, the first petitioner (A2) and first accused beat the complainant on her refusal to get additional dowry. Other allegations have been made against the first accused who is the husband of the de facto complainant on the ground that he is having relationship with several women. As the first accused is not a party to the Criminal Petition, it is not necessary to go into the said allegations.