BHAGWAN SINGH AND ANOTHER Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioners Bhagwan Singh, aged 72 years and Neelam, aged 67 years, have approached this Court by filing the instant petition under Section 438 Cr.PC for grant of anticipatory bail in case FIR No.95 dated 30.7.2014 under Sections 406/498-A IPC, registered at Police Station, Phase XI, SAS Nagar, Mohali (Annexure P-4).

(2.) This Court vide order dated December 19, 2014 had granted interim bail to the petitioners subject to their joining the investigation. In pursuance to the aforesaid order, the petitioners had joined the investigation. However, vide order dated February 04, 2015, the matter was referred to the Mediation and Conciliation Centre of this Court for some amicable settlement. The Mediation and Conciliation Centre vide its report dated 30.4.2015 had reported that despite best efforts, the present case has failed to achieve any fruitful results.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioners are old aged persons and the allegations of demand of dowry have been alleged after about seven years of the marriage, which is blatant abuse of beneficiary provisions of Sections 406/498-A IPC. He further submits that it was on the basis of some advertisement in the newspaper in response to which, the son of the petitioners had contacted the daughter of the complainant and their marriage was solemnized on 3.12.2007. It was a simple marriage without any demand or acceptance of dowry and all expenses were incurred by the petitioners including costly ornaments and gifts etc. Daljit Kaur had promised to take Desinder Preet Singh to Canada after the marriage but her promise proved to be false.