SOMA KAUSHIK REDDY Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is filed by the petitioners-A2 to A5 under Sec. 482 Cr.P.C. to quash the proceedings in Crime No.23 of 2013 on the file of Women Police Station, Saroornagar, Cyberabad, Ranga Reddy District.

(2.) The petitioners submitted that the 2nd respondent - de facto complainant was the wife of A1. She lodged a report before the Woman Police Station, Saroornagar against the petitioners under Ss. 307, 498-A IPC and Ss. 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act (for short 'DP Act). As per the report given by the 2nd respondent, she was married with A1 on 19.02.2009 and at the time of marriage, on the demand of the petitioners, her parents gave two plots worth about Rs.1.00 crore as dowry, cash of Rs.10.00 lakhs, a diamond ring worth Rs.50,000.00 , Rs.2.00 lakhs for purchase of clothes and 100 tulas of gold and 10 kgs., of silver. After marriage, she joined A1 for marital life and stayed with him in India for one month under one roof and after that she went to Sydney, Australia along with him. Thereafter, A1 and the petitioners harassed her for additional dowry of Rs.35.00 lakhs. On the demand of A1 and the petitioners, the father of the 2nd respondent gave Rs.15.00 lakhs on 10/02/2011 to purchase a house in Australia, but the petitioners were not satisfied with the given amount and harassed her for additional dowry of Rs.35.00 lakhs. She worked in Sydney along with A1, but A1 always harassed, abused and bet her. On 16/12/2012, petitioners No.2 and 3 - A2 and A3 came to Sydney and they started harassing her along with the A1 for want of additional dowry. A1 forcibly got aborted her pregnancy twice. The petitioners No.4 and 5 - A4 and A5, sister of A1 and her husband Venkat Ram Reddy, also instigated A1 to harass her. Every week they used to come to their house in Sydney, abuse her in filthy language and harass her. A1 forcibly indulged in sex with her on the same day of her abortion. On 09.02.2013, A1 picked up a quarrel with her, abused her in filthy language and started beating her. He bet her on her waist with beer bottle (broken bottle) and caused injuries to her and hit her to the wall and dragged on the floor. She sustained several injuries on her body. He tried to kill her, throttled her neck. She fell down in unconscious state. One of her friend reached the spot and she escaped from his hands. On the next day, she explained the incident to her parents and requested them to take her back to India. On her request, her father booked a ticket to India and she came back to India on 13.02.2013. Basing on the said complaint, the police registered a case vide Crime No.23 of 2013 for the above offences.

(3.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Public Prosecutor. No representation for the 2nd respondent - de facto complainant. The notice sent to her was returned as 'unclaimed', hence, considered it as deemed service.