JAYARAM SAHOO Vs. STATE OF ODISHA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present appeal is directed against the judgment dtd. 7/1/2000 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Jajpur in S.T. Case No.28 of 1999 whereby the Appellant was convicted for the offence punishable under Sec. 302 IPC and sentenced to imprisonment for life.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that the deceased, Sarathi @ Saria i.e. the wife of the Appellant, and the Appellant got married in 1996. According to the prosecution, at the time of the marriage there was a demand for dowry in the sum of Rs.20,000.00 and for ornaments. It is stated that despite the demands being fulfilled, after the marriage the Appellant continued to demand more dowry. Each time when the deceased came to her father's house, she took money being pressurized by the accused. After his father-in-law's death, knowing that the deceased was the only daughter, the accused insisted on his mother-in-law selling away all the properties and coming to live with them. His mother-in-law did not agree.

(3.) The prosecution's case is that 15 days prior to the death of Saria, the accused sent Saria to bring Rs.5,000.00 from her mother. However, the money could not be arranged. The informant (PW 3) learnt that Saria was beaten to death at village Jhatiapada by the accused. On receiving such information, he went to the house of the accused and found Saria lying dead. There were injuries around her right ear. Accordingly, he suspected that the Appellant had killed Saria by giving her blows on the ear region. On the basis of the written complaint (Ext.1) to the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC), Dharmasala Police Station FIR was registered. On the conclusion of the investigation a charge sheet against the Appellant for the offence punishable under Sec. 302 IPC.