G. SATYA SRI Vs. STATE OF TELANGANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Criminal Petition is filed under Sec. 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short 'Cr.P.C.') to quash the proceedings against the petitioners/accused Nos.4 and 5 on the file of the learned XIII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Nampally, Hyderabad, registered for the offences punishable under Ss. 498-A and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short 'IPC') and Sec. 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (for short 'DP Act') against petitioner No.1/accused No.4 and Sec. 498-A of IPC and Sec. 4 of DP Act against petitioner No.2/accused No.5.

(2.) The brief facts of the case are that respondent No.2/de facto complainant lodged a complaint against the petitioners and other accused stating that her marriage was performed with accused No.1 on 21/11/2019. At the time of marriage, as demanded by the accused, the parents of respondent No.2 presented one crore cash, Ac.5.00 guntas of agricultural land, 66 sovereigns gold, 74 kgs of silver articles and Rs.10,00,000.00 adapaduchu lanchanam towards dowry. After marriage, the accused harassed her mentally and physically and they never treated her as their family members. It is further stated that accused No.1 used to watch porn videos in his leisure time and used to force her to participate in sex. Thereafter, the accused demanded her and her parents to arrange Rs.50,00,000.00 as additional dowry on pretext of pursuing higher studies of accused No.1. It is further stated that when respondent No.2 was at home alone, her father-in-law tried to misbehaved by touching her private parts on several occasions and forcibly tried to fulfill his lust by removing her clothes and that when the same was informed to her husband and mother-in-law, instead of admonishing him, they encouraged his immoral acts and deeds. Later, when the mother of respondent No.2 came to her house, her husband necked out her mother and respondent No.2 and made an attempt to kill respondent No.2 with a knife. Thereafter, respondent No.2 tried to commit suicide being vexed with the attitude and behavior of the accused. Basing on the said complaint, the Police registered a case in Crime No.810 of 2022 for the offences punishable under Ss. 498-A and 506 of IPC and Sec. 4 of DP Act.

(3.) Heard Sri Soma Srinath Reddy, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners as well as Sri D. Arun Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of respondent No.1-State and Sri C. Sharan Reddy, learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.2.