GUDDETI SAROJANA Vs. STATE OF TELANGANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Criminal Petition is filed to quash the proceedings against the petitioners/A2 to A5 in C.C.No.7462 of 2022 on the file of Principal Junior Civil Judge-cum-Principal Judicial Magistrate of First Class at Hanumakonda for the offences under Ss. 498-A, 506 of IPC and Ss. 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

(2.) The petitioners 1 and 2 are the parents-in-law of the 2nd respondent and 3rd petitioner is the sister-in-law and 4th petitioner is the husband of 3rd petitioner.

(3.) It is the case of the 2nd respondent that her marriage was performed with A1 on 11/11/2020. At the time of marriage, on specific demand of these petitioners and A1, dowry to the extent of Rs.40.00 lakhs was given in the form of cash, gold ornaments, motor cycle and other house hold articles. The said household articles and gold ornaments were given to A1 in the presence of elders. 15 days after the marriage, the 2nd respondent and A1 lead happy life. However, these petitioners started harassing the 2nd respondent stating that she had brought less dowry and A1 would have got around Rs.1.00 Crore dowry if he was married to someone else. A1 harassed and beat the 2nd respondent to bring additional dowry and such harassment was meted out at the instance of petitioners 1 and 2/parents-in-law. Panchayat was held for the reason of A1 and others harassing the 2nd respondent. Thereafter, A1 took the 2nd respondent with him to America on 27/7/2021. Both stayed in USA. However, A1 was talking to another woman and used to insist that the 2nd respondent should get additional dowry of Rs.1.00 Crore and the 2nd respondent was beaten by A1 several times, for which reason, she lodged complaint with Oxford City, MS State, police department. Counseled by the police, complaint was taken back. Both A1 and the 2nd respondent returned to India on 30/7/2022 and from Shamshabad Airport, the 2nd respondent was taken to her parents' house and dropped there. Panchayat was held for the reason of A1 and 2nd respondent not getting along well. In the panchayat, A1 informed that he loved another girl and intends to give divorce to the 2nd respondent, for which reason, complaint was made to the Women Police Station on 26/8/2022. On the basis of the said complaint, the police investigated the case and filed charge sheet for the offences under Ss. 498-A and 506 of IPC and Ss. 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act.