HARVINDER SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present appeal is directed against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 11.10.2000 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Barnala, whereby the accused/appellants have been convicted for the offence under Sections 304-B and 498-A IPC and sentenced them to undergo RI for a period of eight years.

(2.) Brief facts of the case are that on 10.12.1997, SI Nachattar Singh alongwith some other police officials was present in the area of Village Thikriwala on the bridge road in connection with patrolling, Piara Singh, herein 'complainant' met him and got recorded his statement, Exhibit PE at 5.00 p.m. to the effect that on 20.7.1997 he married his daughter Paramjit Kaur @ Rani herein 'deceased' to Harvinder Singh, herein 'appellant No. 1'. At the time of marriage, adequate dowry was given to her. He further stated that after about a month of the marriage, accused Gurdev Kaur (mother-in-law of deceased) and appellant Harvinder Singh started taunting her on the pretext that the deceased brought less dowry and if the deceased wanted to live in matrimonial home, she should bring Rs. 50,000/- from her parents for the purchase of a taxi car. About ten days prior to the occurrence, Angrej Kaur (mother of the deceased) visited village Thikriwala to meet her daughter, where the deceased told her that her mother-in-law Gurdev Kaur and her husband Harwinder Singh were harassing her to arrange Rs. 50,000/- within 2-4 days otherwise her dead body will be found. The complainant further stated that on the day of occurrence, he alongwith his brother-in-law Bhajan Singh visited the matrimonial house of her daughter to pay Rs. 10,000/- to the in-laws of his daughter. When they entered the house of the accused persons from its outer gate, the door of the residential house was closed. They heard the voice of accused Gurdev Kaur, saying whether Paramjit Kaur, was alive or not. On hearing this, they pushed the door and saw that Paramjit Kaur, was lying dead with burns. Then all the accused on seeing them became perplexed and ran away from the scene.

(3.) On the above statement, FIR, Exhibit PE/2, was registered. SI Nachattar Singh visited the spot and prepared the rough site plan. He recorded the statements of the witnesses.