KARTAR SINGH AND OTHERS Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellants Kartar Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Tej Kaur have filed the present appeal against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 27.01.2003, passed by the Sessions Judge, Faridkot, vide which they have been held guilty for the commission of offence punishable under Section 304-B read with Section 34 IPC and accordingly convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of seven years each under the aforesaid Section.

(2.) Brief facts of the prosecution case are that the FIR in the present case has been registered on the basis of statement Ex.PH of Karnail Singh, complainant, which he got recorded to police on 30.08.1999. The complainant, in his statement, stated that his daughter Paramjit Kaur (deceased) was married with accused Harbhajan Singh about three years prior to the occurrence and one female child was born out of their wedlock. After sometime of the marriage, all the accused started harassing and maltreating Paramjit Kaur for bringing less dowry, about which she had been telling whenever she visited her parental house. The accused demanded a sum of Rs.10,000/- from Paramjit Kaur which she had to take from her parents but the complainant could not meet the said demand. Two years prior to the occurrence, the accused, due to non-fulfillment of their demand, turned Paramjit Kaur out of their house. Paramjit Kaur stayed in her parental house for one year. Thereafter, the complainant and one Mangal Singh, mediator of the marriage, went to the house of accused and after persuading Paramjit Kaur, they left her there. But after few days, the accused again started maltreating and harassing Paramjit Kaur.

(3.) Two days prior to the occurrence, accused Harbhajan Singh and Paramjit Kaur visited the house of complainant. Harbhajan Singh asked the complainant to pay a sum of Rs.10,000/- as his parents were insisting for the said demand. Paramjit Kaur also disclosed about giving maltreatment by the accused to her. However, the complainant persuaded accused Harbhajan Singh and Paramjit Kaur was sent back alongwith Harbhajan Singh.