HARINDER SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner Harinder Singh son of Gulzar Singh, main accused and husband of complainant Harpreet Kaur d/o Baldev Singh (for brevity "the complainant"), has preferred the instant petition for the grant of concession of anticipatory bail, in a case registered against him along with his other co-accused, vide FIR No.14 dated 16.8.2013 (Annexure P1), on accusation of having committed the offences punishable under sections 406 and 498-A IPC by the police of Police Station Women Cell, Mohali, District SAS Nagar.

(2.) Notice of the petition was given to the State.

(3.) Precisely, the complainant claimed that her marriage was solemnized with the petitioner on 2.4.2006, according to Sikh rites & ceremonies. Her parents have spent huge amount and gave sufficient dowry articles beyond their capacity to the accused at the time of marriage. After solemnization of the marriage, they resided together, cohabited as husband & wife and one female child, namely, Loveleen Kaur, was born out of their wedlock on 25.9.2007. According to the complainant, gold Kara, three rings, watch, ear ring, gold ring, some household articles, double bed, fridge, TV, washing machine, sofa-set, almirah, utensils, bed sheets, iron box, blanket, coils, clothes of Rs. 35000/-, besides other customary gifts and cash were given by her parents at the time of solemnization of her marriage, but the accused were not satisfied and termed that the dowry articles are cheaper and of inferior quality. They taunted and compelled her to bring Rs. 1 lac in cash from her father. She showed her inability to fulfill the illegal demand of the petitioner, as her father had already spent huge amount in her marriage. He has no capacity to give more dowry articles and cash. Thereafter, they started abusing her and declared that in case, she wants to live with the petitioner, then, she has to bring the money from her father. They insisted her on their demand. Faced with the situation, she requested her father, who arranged an amount of Rs. 70,000/- and paid to the accused with the hope that they would change their attitude, but in vain. They also blamed the complainant for giving birth to female child. It was alleged that father of the complainant has tried to pacify the accused, but their attitude did not change. Even they tried to kill her. Ultimately, she was turned out of her matrimonial home by the petitioner with the threat that in case she resumed cohabitation, she would be eliminated.