SUPRIYA CHOWDHURY Vs. STATE OF TRIPURA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. P.K. Biswas, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. Rishiraj Nath, learned counsel for the petitioners/applicants and Mr. Ratan Datta, learned Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State.

(2.) Petitioners/applicants are the mother-in-law (aged 57 years) and married sister-in-law (aged 36 years) of the deceased who are accused along with the husband in Amtali P.S. case No.2023AMT069 registered on 7/5/2023 for the offence punishable under Ss. 498A/304B/34 of the IPC. As per the prosecution story lodged by one Smt. Mamata Roy, mother of the deceased, on 7/5/2023 before Amtali Police Station, the deceased was married to one Apan Chowdhury six years back and a daughter was born out of their wedlock. She was subjected to mental and physical torture in inebriated condition by her husband after one year of their marriage at regular intervals and that these two petitioners/applicants used to slur insults towards her and tortured her and used to tell her to go out of the house. During the time of Durga Puja festival in 2022, the victim was asked to bring money from her parental house and accordingly, was subjected to torture. There were regular demands of dowry by the husband. It is stated that on 7/5/2023 at around 12 p.m. she was informed over telephone by a neighbour of the victim that her daughter had committed suicide by hanging herself. When she went to the spot, she found her daughter to be hanging in the kitchen room of the house and accordingly, strong suspicion on the husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law of the deceased was raised which led to lodging of the complaint.

(3.) Learned senior counsel for the petitioners/applicants submits that the allegations are mainly against the husband who has already been arrested on 8/5/2023 and is in custody. The petitioners/applicants are the mother-in-law (aged 57 years) and married sister-in-law (aged 36 years). The petitioner/applicant No.2 namely Smt. Pinki Chowdhury has been residing elsewhere with her husband and other family members. Petitioner/applicant No.1 is suffering from eye problems and is under treatment of the doctors at Agartala Government Medical College where she has been advised to go for an eye operation. The minor child is staying with petitioner/applicant No.1. Apparently, the victim committed suicide on account of the torture and demand of dowry by the husband. As such, petitioners/applicants who are females may be enlarged on bail as they are ready to cooperate in the investigation with suitable conditions.