RAVI ALIAS RAVINDRA Vs. STATE OF M P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) APPELLANT Ravi @ Ravindra has been convicted under Section 306, Indian Penal Code for abetting the commission of suicide by his wife and he has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for seven years and fine of Rs. 5,000/ -.

(2.) DECEASED Anju was married to accused Ravi on 16. 5. 1991 and she commit- ted suicide by burning herself on 12. 1. 1992. This incident took place in the house of her mother at Balaghat. The prosecution is that accused Ravi was demanding T. V. and fridge as dowry. He was also demanding an amount of Rs. 50,000/- for starting some business. The accused was subjecting his wife to cruelty. On 4. 1. 1992, deceased Anju and accused Ravi came to Balaghat. Deceased Anju was bitten by dog at Jabalpur. The accused left Anju in the house of her mother. He told that he was going to Bhopal. Instead of going to Bhopal he stayed in the house of Basant Kumar (PW 2 ). He is husband of Anju's elder sister. The accused sent Satish Kumar (PW 7) to bring the key from his wife. This key was of the lock of the house at Sihora where the accused was serving and living with his wife Anju. She did not send the key through Satish Kumar (PW 7 ). He came back. Anju came to the house of Basant Kumar (PW 2) and there was a quarrel between the two. The accused told Anju that she should prevail upon her mother to give him Rs. 50,000/-, failing which he would divorce her. At that time she was beaten by the accused. She was pregnant in those days. She came to the house of her mother Kesharbai (PW 1) and narrated the whole incident to her. She told about this incident to her sister Rekha (PW 3) who was in the house of her mother at that time. On the same day i. e. on 12. 1. 1992 Anju went in the bathroom of her house and sent herself ablaze.

(3.) THE accused pleaded not guilty. The Trial Court after appreciation of the evidence on record held the accused guilty as mentioned above.