SUKHWINDER SINGH Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present appeal has been filed by the appellant against the judgment of conviction dated 21.03.2003 and order of sentence dated 24.03.2003, passed by the learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Kurukshetra, whereby, he was held guilty and convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1000/- under Section 498-A IPC and in default of payment of fine, to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of fifteen days and further convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of seven years and to pay a fine of Rs. 2500/- under Section 304-B IPC and in default of payment of fine, to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one month.

(2.) Other co-accused namely, Baldev Kaur, Mehma Ram, Jasmer Singh and Tej Kaur were found not guilty and were acquitted of all the charges framed against them.

(3.) The brief facts of the prosecution case are that on 16.05.1998, Jasmer Singh, Sarpanch of village Kalyana reported the matter to the police that one day earlier, in the evening, Gulzaro wife of Sukhwinder Singh had died due to burn injuries at 7.00 P.M. On receiving this information, ASI Hem Chand along with other police officials reached village Kalyana, where Gurmail Singh, complainant got recorded his statement, in which he stated that his sister Gulzaro was married with Sukhwinder Singh on 02.04.1995 and sufficient dowry was given at the time of marriage. A son, who was two years of age at that time, was born from the wedlock. He also stated that after six months of the marriage, when his sister came to their house, then she reported that her in-laws used to taunt her for bringing insufficient dowry and also used to give her beatings. In-laws of Gulzaro were pacified and told by complainant side that they were poor and they have given dowry more than their capacity and they were unable to give more dowry but even then, accused continued to harass Gulzaro.