STATE OF PUNJAB Vs. SUKHDEV RAJ

JUDGEMENT

(1.) SATYA Wanti (mother-in-law), Rachna Devi (sister-in-law) and Sukhdev Raj (husband), all the respondents were tried in case FIR No. 22 dated 14.3.1994 under Section 302/498-A/304-B/34 IPC Police Station City, Batala for burning Anju Bala to death on account of demand of dowry. The accused- respondents (hereinafter referred to as 'the respondents') were tried for the aforesaid offenes and were acquitted vide judgment dated 28.1.1998 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur.

(2.) IT is another example where a weaker sex had to suffer on account of the atrocities meted by her at the hands of her in-laws and had to face death- knell for not meeting their demands. Equally is the apathy that the blood of her own sister Babb, (a next door neighbour, who was the first to take her to the hospital) became white, she resiled and did not support her cause (deceased) during the cross-examination, obviously for the material gains and had no courtesy with the departed soul as she being no more in this world could ever come to accuse her for her fault. However, much has been left for the court to re-appreciate for determining the legality of the judgment.

(3.) SI Balbir Singh after completing the statement at 8.20 PM sent ruqa Ex.PF to the police station, on the basis of which, FIR was recorded under Section 307/498-A IPC at Police Station City, Batala at 8.55 PM. Ultimately, Anju Bala succumbed to the injuries on 4.4.1994. The completion of the investigation, was followed by the charged report.