PRADEEP SINGH Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The sole appellant has preferred this appeal against the judgment and order dated 24th August, 2000 passed by the 1st Addl. Sessions Judge, Munger in ST. No. 285/98 whereby the appellant has been convicted for the offence under Section 302/34, IPC and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and has further been convicted for the offence under Section 498-A, IPC and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years. He has further been convicted for the offence under Section 201, IPC and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

(2.) One Deep Narain Manjhi gave his fardbeyan on 19.5.1997 at about 7.45 p.m. before the Officer-in-charge of Tarapur Police Station at the Bus stand that his daughter Sarita Devi was married about ten years ago to Pradeep Singh, the appellant. At the time of marriage he had given gifts. After marriage the people of her sasural used to demand motor cycle and money which he could not fulfil. The people of his daughter's sasural used to torture her. However, the people of the village solved the problem. On 19.5.1997 in the morning he learnt that his daughter has been killed by the people of her sasural. He went to Manjhidih, the sasural of his daughter and found that the house was locked. He learnt from the people that his daughter has been killed by poisoning by Pradeep Singh, Kuldip Singh, Sunil Singh, Bhanmantri Devi, Sudha Devi and Jagdish Singh in the night of 17/18.5.1997 and they have concealed the dead body.

(3.) On the aforesaid fardbeyan formal first information report was drawn and investigation was taken up. On completion of investigation, charge-sheet was submitted only against two persons, that appellant and one Jagdish Singh. On receipt of charge-sheet cognizance was taken and the case was committed to the Court of sessions for trial. The trial Court convicted the appellant as indicated above, however, acquitted Jagdish Singh.