RAJINDER SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present appeal has been preferred against the judgment dated 04.12.2001 vide which accused-appellant Rajinder Singh has been held guilty and convicted for the offence punishable under Section 304-B of Indian Penal Code (for short 'Code') and the order of sentence of the same date, vide which he has been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of ten years.

(2.) In nutshell, the case of prosecution is that complainant Ram Saran PW-2 made his statement Ex.PE to ASI Jagir Singh PW-5 alleging therein that he has five children. His eldest daughter Surekha (deceased) was enticed away by the accused in the year 1996. Later on, appellant-Rajinder Singh contracted marriage with Surekha. After 6-7 months of the marriage, accused started maltreating the deceased and asked her to bring dowry from her parents. Complainant came to meet his daughter, who told him about the demand of the accused. Ram Saran and his wife Nirmal Kanta gave television set, radio, jewellery, utensils and other household articles to the accused. Thereafter, the accused and deceased remained peaceful for about 6-7 months. Accused again started giving beating to Surekha Devi and asked her to bring money from her father, as he was not getting any work. Complainant-Ram Saran gave Rs. .5000/- to Surekha (deceased) and the behaviour of the accused remained normal for about one and half month. Thereafter, again he started harassing the deceased. Surekha Devi came to the complainant and told that accused was asking her to bring money from her parents and threatened that he would kill her brother or he will burnt her.

(3.) That on 18.05.1999 at about 2.30.p.m, complainant-Ram Saran came to know that Surekha Devi had set herself ablaze due to harassment given by the accused. He further alleged that it was the accused who had set her ablaze. The complainant reached the matrimonial house of the deceased in village Muglani Chak, where she was residing with the accused and found her dead body lying there.