BISHUNDEO PODDAR Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These two appeals are directed against the judgment and order by which the appellants have been convicted under Section 302/34, Penal Code and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life and further convicted under Section 498-A of the Penal Code and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for two years. There are three appellants in Cr. Appeal No. 9/97. They are in-laws of the deceased. In Cr. Appeal No. 44/97 the appellant is the husband.

(2.) Briefly stated, omitting the unnecessary details, the case of the prosecution is that Ranju Kumari, daughter of the informant Ram Narayan Poddar, was married to appellant-Birendra Poddar of Village Sadpur, P. S. Sahebpur Kamal, District Begusarai on 27-6-90. In her sasural she was ill-treated, the reason being that Birendra Poddar was having illicit relationship with his Bhabhi, Janki Devi, one of the appellants herein, to which Ranju was objecting. Her objection was not taken well and she was at times beaten. Ranju Kumari told her father about the ill-treatment. She expressed her apprehension that she might be killed and, therefore, she does not want to go to her sasural. However, on account of marriage in the in-laws family Rokshadi was performed on 5-4-93. She sent letters describing her plight. Ram Narayan Poddar sent his son Sanjay to bring her but she was not allowed to come. On 8-9-93 his nephew Shashi Bhushan Poddar informed Ram Narayan Poddar that Ranju had been killed by her husband and in-laws in the night of 1/2-9-93 and her dead body made to disappear. Ram Narayan Poddar along with Shashi Bhushan Poddar and son Sanjay Poddar went to Sadpur to enquire the whereabout of Ranju. Appellant Bishundeo Poddar (father-in-law of Ranju) told that Ranju had died of illness. Ram Narayan Poddar made enquiries and came to learn that she had been killed and her dead body made to disappear by the appellants.

(3.) On 9-9-93 at 11.45 a.m. Ram Narayan Poddar lodged written report to the above effect on the basis of which Sahebpur Kamal PS Case No. 128/93 was instituted.