STATE OF H.P. Vs. ROSHAN LAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) RESPONDENTS were sent up for trial for offences punishable under Sections 306, 302, 498-A and 201 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

(2.) DECEASED Krisho was married to respondent Roshan Lal four years prior to her alleged killing by the respondents. For about six months, after the marriage, respondent Roshan Lal had cordial relations with Krisho, but thereafter he started demanding dowry and on her failure to bring the demanded amount of money, on account of dowry, he started giving beatings to her. Once Krisho went to her father's place and stayed there for a month, because of the ill-treatment and torture at the hands of the respondents. She was sent back to the matrimonial home only on the assurance of one Jai Singh, an uncle of respondent Roshan Lal, that he would be responsible in case she was Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? beaten up by the respondents. About 1 1/2 month after she was sent back to her matrimonial home by her parents, she went missing. On 14th June, 1990, two boys from the village of the respondents went to PW-3 Chamaru Ram, the father of Krisho, and informed that Krisho had been missing. PW-3 Chamaru Ram, accompanied by a number of residents of his village, including PW-2 Ghino Ram and PW-4 Mangta Ram, both his brothers, went to the village of the respondents. They started searching for Krisho. When they went to the bridge of a river, they noticed a pair of Krisho's Chappals and a Darati, which was given to her, as one of the items of dowry, at the time of her marriage and on which word "Mangta", i.e. the name of PW-4, her uncle, was engraved. When search was going on for Krisho by PW-3 Chamaru Ram, her father, PW-2 Ghino Ram and PW-4 Mangta and other residents of their village, respondent Roshan Lal also joined them. He looked stunned. That day Krisho could not be traced. Next morning, search again started for her. PW-3 Chamaru Ram asked respondent Roshan Lal to come out with the truth about the disappearance of Krisho. He allegedly told him that on the night intervening 13th & 14th he and Krisho had a tiff after taking their meals and in the course of that tiff he happened to strangulate her with her Dupatta, as a result of which she died and then he made the body into a bundle by means of a woolen sheet and threw that bundle into the river from a bridge. On the basis of this alleged confession made by respondent Roshan Lal, a case was got registered against the respondents by PW-3 Chamaru Ram, the father of Krisho, vide FIR Ex. PA.

(3.) WE have heard the learned Additional Advocate General and gone through the record, particularly the testimony of the above named three witnesses.