KOROLLA ARUN KUMAR Vs. STATE OF TELANGANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present Criminal Petition is filed by the petitioners/A-1 to A-6, under Section 482 of Cr. P. C. , seeking to quash the proceedings initiated against them in C. C. No. 558 of 2018 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class at Tandur, registered for the offences punishable under Section 498-A I. P. C. and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

(2.) On a complaint given by the 2nd respondent/de facto complainant, who is the wife of the 1st petitioner/A1, a case in Crime No. 14 of 2018 was registered against the petitioners/A1 to A6 for the aforesaid offences by the Sub Inspector of Police, Women Police Station, Vikarabad, Vikarabad District. It is alleged in the complaint that the marriage between the 2nd respondent/de facto complainant and the 1st petitioner/A1 took place on 26.08.2016 before the elders at Methodist Church, Mehdipatnam and at the time of marriage, her father had given an amount of Rs. 60,000/- cash, twenty tulas of gold ornaments, one bike and all other household articles. After the marriage, the 2nd respondent/de facto complainant joined the company of the 1st petitioner/A1 and they lived happily for three months. Thereafter, petitioners 1 to 3/A1 to A3 started harassing her for additional dowry and suspecting her to whomsoever she talks and that the 1st petitioner/A1 abused and beat her several times. The 1st petitioner/A-1 took all her gold ornaments and petitioners 1 to 3 /A1 to A3 harassed her both mentally and physically and treated her as a servant. The 4th petitioner/A4, who is the sister of the 1st petitioner/A1 and petitioners 5 and 6/A5 and A6, who are close relatives of petitioners 1 to 3/A1 to A3, frequently visited the house of the 1st petitioner/A1 on holidays and on other occasions and used to harass her with a demand of additional dowry. When the 2nd respondent/de facto complainant informed to the 1st petitioner/A1 about her pregnancy, petitioners 1 to 3/A1 to A3 sent her to her mother's house and for the last nine months she is residing with her mother. On 14.02.2018, the 2nd respondent/de facto complainant gave birth to a male child, who died soon after the birth, but the petitioners 1 to 3/A1 to A3 did not come to see her. Thus, the acts of the petitioners/A1 to A6 constitute the offences punishable under Section 498-A of I. P. C. and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. After completion of investigation, the police filed charge sheet, which was taken cognizance as C. C. No. 558 of 2018 and the same is pending before the Judicial Magistrate of First Class at Tandur.

(3.) Heard learned Counsel for the petitioners/A1 to A6, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the 1st respondent/ State and learned Counsel for the 2nd respondent/de facto complainant.