MANGAL RAM Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Accused/appellants stand convicted under Section 304-B and 498-A of the I.P.C. and have been sentenced as under : both the accused/appellants have been sentenced to undergo R. I. for seven years and to pay fine of Rs. 1,000/- (One thousand) for offence punishable under Section 304-B of I.P.C. while they have been sentenced to undergo R. I. for three years and to pay fine of Rs. 500/- (Five hundred) for offence punishable under Section 498-A of I.P.C., by judgment dt. 2-8-97 in Sessions Trial No. 78/95 by Sessions Judge, Sidhi.

(2.) The deceased Sudha was the second wife of Ramayan Prasad, son of appellants and was married to him in the month of May 1991. 'Gauna' ceremony was performed in October 1991. Ramayan Prasad, the husband of the deceased was employed in the army and was posted at Ahmedabad. His parents - the appellants resided at Mawai where the incident occurred. Sudha died of burn injuries on 7-4-95, i.e., within about four years of her marriage.

(3.) The prosecution case briefly stated is that, the accused/appellants used to demand four tolas of gold from deceased Sudha which was promised to be given at the time of marriage and also share in the earnings of their son Ramayan Prasad. They used to harass, maltreat and beat her. She had complained to her parents about the demand and harassment meted out to her by the appellants. Sudha thereafter stayed with her parents at Duari, whenever her husband Ramayan Prasad went away on his duty. In the month of March ''95 just prior to the incident Ramayan Prasad (P.W.8) wrote a letter to his wife Sudha asking her to come to Mawai where he also would be reaching in the month of March-April, 1995. Upon receiving letter of Ramayan Prasad, deceased Sudha went to her in-laws at Mawai on 5th of April 1995. In the morning of 7th April, 1995 she sustained severe burn injuries, which proved fatal.