RAGHBIR SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE two petitions for bail under Section 438 Cr.P.C. arise from the same FIR No. 55 dated 20.7.1999 of Police Station Kurali under Sections 494-A, 307, 406, 506, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, therefore, are being disposed of by this common order. The F.I.R. has been registered on the statement of Harmanjit Kaur, she has alleged that she was married on 7.3.1999, that her mother-in-law Joginder Kaur (petitioner in Crl. Misc. No. 22285-M of 1999), her brother-in-law-Raghbir Singh and his wife Jasbir Kaur (both of then are petitioners in Crl. Misc. No. 22137-M of 1999) and her husband Sulakhan Singh have been harassing and taunting her by saying that she should bring Maruti car or a sum of Rs. 1 lakh in cash. It is also alleged that on one day they threatened to kill her. She has also alleged that these persons also beat her making the same demand. According to the complainant on 8.7.1999, they locked her in a room and while Raghbir Singh held her from her arms, her sister-in-law held her from legs and threw her on the floor and her mother-in-law held her from her hairs, her husband Sulakhan Singh forcibly administered some poisonous liquid in her month. She alleged that she was admitted in the PGI where her brother and uncle got her treated. The petitioners approached the Sessions Court, Ropar, for bail, but the Additional Sessions Judge, Ropar, dismissed their bail applications. Therefore, they have approached this Court under Section 438 Cr.P.C. for similar relief.

(2.) THE learned Counsel for the petitioners-Raghbir Singh and Jasbir Kaur contends that they are residing separately from Sulakhan Singh and that all the dowry articles have been returned. The learned Counsel for the petitioner also contends that petitioner Joginder Kaur is an old lady of 65 years who is even unable to walk. The learned Counsel for the petitioner also contends that the allegations against the petitioners are vague and general except for the allegation that Joginder Kaur mother-in-law caught hold of the hair of the complainant while the petitioner-Raghbir Singh caught hold her from arms and his wife held her from her legs and threw her on the floor.

(3.) TAKING into consideration the arguments put forward but, at the same time without meaning to express any opinion on the merits of this case, I am of the view that the petitioners are entitled to be released on bail.