RAJ KUMAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS order shall dispose of three Crl. Misc. petitions filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Crl. Misc. No. 40292-M of 2003 has been filed by petitioners Raj Kumar and his wife Sudharshan Bali, Crl. Misc. No. 480-M of 2004 has been filed by petitioners Kishore Chhibber and his wife Smt. Romi Chhibber and Crl. Misc. No. 7057-M of 2004 has been filed by petitioner Dolly Datta. These petitions have been filed for quashing F.I.R. No. 60 dated 13.4.2003 registered under Sections 406/498- A/506/420/34 I.P.C. at Police Station City, Phagwara, District Kapurthala and all the subsequent proceedings arising therefrom.

(2.) THE aforesaid F.I.R. was registered on the complaint made by Ravi Sharan Mehta, father of Ramita against the husband of Ramita, her mother-in-law, sister-in-law and the petitioners. The petitioners Raj Kumar and his wife Sudharshan Bali are the Massar and Massi, whereas Kishore Chhibber and his wife Rom Chhibber are the uncle and aunti of Nitin Chhibber. Petitioner Dolly Datta is the unmarried cousin sister of the husband. In the F.I.R., the allegations of harassment and demand of dowry have been levelled against the husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law (accused Nos. 1 to 3). Against the petitioners, who are the distant relatives of the husband, it has been alleged that they were the middlemen in the marriage and had actively participated in the same. It has also been alleged that the dowry articles were given to all the accused at the time of marriage which were subsequently not returned to the wife. It has been further alleged that accused No. 1 to 3 demanded the dowry through the petitioners.

(3.) I have heard the counsel for the parties and gone through the contents of the F.I.R. as well as the reply filed by respondent No. 1.