KULDIP SINGH AND ANOTHER Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants-Kuldip Singh and Surjit Kaur have put to challenge the judgment and order dated 05.02.2003 passed by the Sessions Judge, Fatehgarh Sahib, by which they were convicted for offences punishable under Sections 302/34 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short 'IPC') and sentenced to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for life and appellant No.1-Kuldeep Singh to pay fine of Rs. 5,000/- and appellant No.2-Surjit Kaur to pay fine of Rs. 2,000/- and in default of payment of fine, to further undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for one year each.

(2.) In brief, the prosecution case was that Mandeep Kaur wife of Kuldip Singh-appellant No.1 died in her matrimonial home on 203.1996 at about 4:00/5:00 A.M. at village Nanuwal Khurd. Appellant No.2-Surjit Kaur is her mother-in-law. The deceased was aged about 24-25 years married with Kuldip Singh 7 years before and having a son and a daughter with aged 4 and 2-1/2 years respectively. Her name was changed to Gurmit Kaur after marriage.

(3.) On 22.01996 at about 4:00-5:00 A.M., appellant No.1-Kuldip Singh had visited the house of complainant and told that Gurmit Kaur had set herself on fire by sprinkling kerosene and committed suicide. Complainant, his wife Mohinder Kaur and Sarpanch Malkiat Singh went to the village Nanuwal Khurd and saw Gurmit Kaur lying in burnt condition. The motive projected by the prosecution was that appellants wanted the hand of Jasbir Kaur, sister of the deceased for marriage with the brother of Kuldip Singh, namely Baljit Singh.