LAKHBIR SINGH AND OTHERS Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants were convicted for the offence punishable under Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC for short) on 19.09.2003 and were sentenced on the same day. The sentence awarded was rigorous imprisonment for seven years and fine to the tune of Rs.2,000/- to each of the appellants and in default of payment of fine, the defaulter was to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months each. The judgment of conviction and the order of sentence passed by the then Additional Sessions Judge, Bathinda, have been put under challenge in this appeal.

(2.) The prosecution case was that Darshan Singh, complainant, informed the police that his daughter Amandeep Kaur was married with appellant-Lakbir Singh on 26.01.2000, but the marriage was a simple one. Lakhbir Singh and others versus State of Punjab However, soon after the marriage, Lakhbir Singh and the other appellants started harassing Amandeep Kaur for not bringing dowry. They raised a demand of Rs.1,00,000/-, which fact was disclosed by Amandeep Kaur to the complainant and his son Karamjit Singh. The complainant went to the matrimonial home of his daughter for explaining to the appellants that he was not in a position to meet their demand, but he was told that unless he fulfilled the demand, his daughter would find no place in her matrimonial home.

(3.) The complainant made up his mind to sell a plot which he owned in Ludhiana, but before that on 29.03.2000, his daughter again narrated her tale of woes to him beseeching him to pay the money as she apprehended danger to her life in case the amount was not paid. The complainant again told the appellants that he would make the payment after sale of his plot, but they did not believe him.