RAVINDAR PRASAD Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the Appellants and learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State as well as the learned counsel for the Informant.

(2.) The Appellants have been convicted under Section 304B/34 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to Rigorous Imprisonment for life by a Judgment dated 09.04.2015/15.04.2015 by the 3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Aurangabad in Sessions Trial No. 12 of 2006/188 of 2014.

(3.) The case of the prosecution, according to the Informant, Umesh Singh Mehta, P.W.6, who is father of the deceased, by way of a complaint given to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Aurangabad on 16.04.2004, is that his daughter Sobha Devi was married to the Appellant Ravindar Prasad in the year 1999 on which occasion a large number of gifts were given to the Bribe Groom Party. Her life was happy till the year 2001, but it started deteriorating when the accused persons wanted money for building their ancestral house. The Informant had also retired from service on 21.05.2001 and the accused persons had wanted part of the retirement benefits and hence, started torturing his daughter Sobha Devi. His daughter Shobha Devi came to his house in the year 2004 for a month on which occasion she told her mother, Daulti Devi (P.W.3) and elder brother, Sanjay Singh Mehta (P.W. 4) that her husband had completely changed. He always abused and assaulted her for small things. The reason was only that the demand of Rs. 1,50,000/-, which had been refused. On 10.02.2004, the brother-in-law of the deceased (Appellant No.2) came with the uncle-in-law, Bhola Mahto and stayed with them over night and insisted that Shobha Devi be sent with them. However, he refused and said that he would take her to the service place. At this, the accused once again reiterated their demands i.e. Rs. 1,50,000/- and said that this message had been sent by the husband. On the next day i.e. 11.02.2004, both the accused persons came and left saying that Shobha Devi should be taken to the house of her husband. So, he reached there on 16.02.2004 and stayed overnight at the house of the Appellant no.1, Ravindar Prasad, on which occasion the husband also demanded money for construction of the house.