DHANIK LAL YADAV Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Though four persons, including appellant, were put on trial, while others were acquitted, appellant alone suffered conviction under Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code, for which he was sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for a term of ten years.

(2.) The factual matrix Kiran Devi was married to the appellant sometimes in the year 1996. However, happiness of Kiran Devi was quite short lived as her in Laws became hostile to her for insufficiency of dowry provided to them by her parents. There had been torture on Kiran Devi in in-laws' house and eventually, the information about tragic end of Kiran was received from one Shobha Nand Yadav who stated that Kiran had been poisoned by her in law and her dead body was being cremated. The father of Kiran Devi alongwith other allegedly rushed to the cremation ground where he noticed dead body of Kiran Devi being cremated. When Police Officer happened to come there, the appellant an other in-laws left the place, and with these accusations, fardbeyan of father of deceased Kiran Devi was recorded by Police on 7:30 hours on 6th June, 1997, pursuant to which investigation commenced. During investigation, Police collected evidence and on its conclusion laid charge-sheet before the Court. At trial no less than 34 witnesses were examined by the State.

(3.) Defence of the appellant had been that of plea of innocence and false implication for no good evidence.