PHUMAN SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant was tried by the Additional Sessions Judge in FIR No. 39 dated 18.07.2011, registered at Police Station Mehta and was sentenced to undergo imprisonment for a period of 10 years under Sec. 304 -B IPC. Aggrieved with the verdict he has filed this appeal.

(2.) Delving into the facts first, Balwinder Kaur was married four years prior to the unfortunate incident on 17.07.2011. The couple had a son who was just three years old. The incident took place in the matrimonial home in the late evening.

(3.) A complaint was lodged by Dharam Singh, father of the deceased on 18.07.2011 at 11:40 AM. He had stated that Balwinder Kaur was harassed soon after marriage and there was demand of money and he had been expressing his inability to pay. He had mentioned that he had seven daughters and a son and could not give any more amount. Balwinder Kaur came to the village of her parents on 16.07.2011 and told them that she had come to take money and she had been sent for that purpose and it was for constructing the house. The father expressed his inability and Balwinder Kaur returned. The next evening he received a telephone call from Kashmir Singh who was the mediator who revealed the incident. On hearing the news, the family went to Balwinder's house and found her body lying in the cot. There were signs of injury on her body. The complainant alleged that his daughter has been strangulated. Postmortem was carried out and it was reported that the death was on account of asphyxia as a result of strangulation which was sufficient to cause death. The FIR was registered under Sec. 304 -B IPC. Later Sec. 302 IPC was added.