NEREDUKOMMA BALAIAH Vs. STATE OF TELANGANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Criminal Petition is filed under Sec. 482 of Cr.P.C. by the petitioners-accused Nos.2 and 3 seeking to quash the proceedings against them in C.C.No.294 of 2022 on the file of the learned Judicial First Class Magistrate at Nagarkurnool District (for short 'trial Court'), arising out of Crime No.242 of 2022 of P.S. Nagarkurnool, registered for the offences under Sec. 498-A of the Indian Penal Code (for short 'IPC') and Sec. 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (for short 'the Act').

(2.) Heard Mr. B.Kiran Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mrs. S.Madhavi, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State. Inspite of service of notice, there is no representation on behalf of respondent No.2. Perused the record.

(3.) The petitioners-accused Nos.2 and 3 are the father and mother of accused No.1. The gist of the complaint is that the 2nd respondent- de facto complainant was married to accused No.1, eighteen months prior to lodging the complaint. At the time of marriage, certain amount of dowry was given. They lived happily for few months. Thereafter, accused No.1 used to come home in drunken condition and beat the de facto complainant. The accused No.1 and the petitioners-accused Nos.2 and 3 started harassing the de facto complainant physically and mentally demanding additional dowry. In March, 2022, the de facto complainant was necked out from the matrimonial home. Since then, she was staying at her parental house. Though panchayats were held in the presence of village elders and counselling was conducted at Saki Center, the accused did not change their attitude and refused to accept the de facto complainant unless and until their demand of additional dowry was fulfilled. Hence, the present complaint.