GURDIP SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Convict -Gurdip Singh has filed this Criminal Appeal assailing his conviction and sentence ordered by learned Additional Sessions Judge (Adhoc), Hoshiarpur vide judgmednt and order dated 4.7.2003 thereby convicting the appellant under Section 306 IPC and sentencing him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and to pay fine of Rs. 2000/- and in default of payment of fine, to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for one month.

(2.) Appellant is husband of deceased Surinder Kaur. Their marriage had taken place about three years prior to the occurrence. Prosecution case is that after about 3 months of the marriage, the appellant and his co-accused parents Hardas Singh and Nasib Kaur and sister Bimla Devi started harassing the deceased for more dowry. After about 5 months, Surinder Kaur was sent to her parental home where she gave birth to a daughter. Compromise was effected twice in panchayat and Surinder Kaur was sent to matrimonial home but her maltreatment by all the four accused continued. On 28.5.2001, a day prior to the occurrence, complainant Mohinder Pal Singh, who is father of the deceased, had gone to the matrimonial home of the deceased along with his other daughter Parminder Kaur. Even then deceased Surinder Kaur disclosed to them that the accused were pressing for demand of car. The accused also did not behave properly with the complainant and his other daughter. On 29.5.2001, complainant received information about admission of Surinder Kaur in Hospital due to consumption of poison. The complainant went there. Surinder Kaur was lying unconscious.

(3.) She died after sometime. On statement of complainant, FIR was registered and investigation was conducted. On completion of investigation, all the four accused were sent for trial under Section 304-B read with Section 34 IPC.