STATE OF H.P. Vs. SATYA DEVI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD and gone through the record.

(2.) RESPONDENTS were sent up for trial for offences punishable under Sections 435 and 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly intimidating their sister-in-law (Jethani or Devrani) Smt. Raj Kumari (PW-1) and then setting some hay, stacked by her in front of her house, on fire. Trial Court has acquitted both the respondents holding that the case does not stand proved beyond reasonable doubt.

(3.) THE testimony of PW-1 Raj Kumari as also PW-2 Bandu is contradictory to the earliest version, which was given to the police vide FIR Ext. PW-1/A. In the FIR it was got recorded that Indu and Bandu had told PW-1 Raj Kumari that the grass had been set on fire by Satya Devi. However, in the Court the two witnesses have named Jagtamba also besides Satya Devi, as the perpetrators of the crime.