BEJJIPALLI REYYAMMA AND ANOTHER Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HYDERABAD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Both these Criminal Appeals arise out of judgment, dated 22.12.2010, in Sessions Case No.9 of 2006 on the file of learned II Additional District & Sessions Judge, (Fast Track Court), Srikakulam, whereby accused No.3 was acquitted of all the charges and accused Nos. 1 and 2 were convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 4 and 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (for short the Act) and Sections 498-A read with 34 and 302 read with 34 I.P.C. and were sentenced to suffer (i) rigorous imprisonment for one year each and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/- each, in default, to suffer simple imprisonment for three months each for the offence under Section 4 of the Act; (ii) rigorous imprisonment for one year each and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/- each, in default, to suffer simple imprisonment for three months each for the offence under Section 6(2) of the Act; (iii) rigorous imprisonment for three years each and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/- each, in default, to suffer simple imprisonment for three months each for the offence under Sections 498-A read with 34 I.P.C.; and (iv) life imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/- each, in default, to suffer simple imprisonment for three months each for the offence under Sections 302 read with 34 I.P.C. The Court below further directed that all the sentences shall run concurrently. Further, accused Nos.1 and 2 were directed to refund the dowry amount of Rs.1,00,000/-; Rs.10,000/- given towards television etc., and five tulas of gold or its value to the daughter of the deceased and they all shall be paid to P.W.1 in whose custody the said girl is kept.

(2.) Feeling aggrieved by the conviction and sentence imposed on them, accused Nos.1 and 2 filed Criminal Appeal No.71 of 2011. The State filed Criminal Appeal No.13 of 2013 against the said judgment of the Court below to the extent of acquitting accused No.3. Both these Criminal Appeals were heard and disposed of together.

(3.) For the sake of convenience, the parties are hereinafter referred to as they are arrayed in the Sessions Case.