JIA LAL Vs. EMPEROR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an application by Jia Lal against an order passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Meerut, upholding his conviction by a special Magistrate under Section 420, I.P.C. Originally no less than five persons were prosecuted for conspiracy to cheat under Secs.420/120-B, I.P.C. They were two brothers, Jia Lal (the applicant) and Moola, their uncle Badri Prasad, and cousin Khacheroo, and a stranger Parkashi. The case was instituted on a complaint by Kewal Ram, whose story was as follows:

(2.) The applicant Jia Lal had a sister, Abha Dei, who had reached a marriageable age. Kewal Ram had a son, Lakhi Ram. All the five accused brought about an engagement of marriage between Mt. Abha Dei and Lakhi Ram on the condition that Kewal Ram would pay Rs. 100 immediately: Rs. 400 on receipt of the marriage letter and Rs. 200 at the time of the actual ceremony. Rs. 100 was paid, as agreed. It was further stipulated that, as soon as the sum of Rs. 400 was paid by Kewal Ram on receipt of the marriage letter, Jia Lal would execute a promissory note ostensibly agreeing to pay Rs. 500. The note was however intended as a security for the due performance of the marriage and was to be returned by Kewal Ram to Jia Lal when the marriage became an accomplished fact. The payment of Rs 400 was made, and a promissory note was executed Tha arrangement for marriage proceeded satisfactorily, and the "barat" arrived in due course. The guests were feasted, and every one expected that the actual ceremony of marriage would take place shortly. The five accused approached Kewal Ram and asked for the return of the promissory note and Kewal Ram returned it in the confidence that the marriage would be performed within a short time. He however received a rude shock when 20 minutes afterwards the accused made a demand for the sum of Rs. 200, which was to be paid at the time of the marriage ceremony, and an additional sum of Rs 300. Kewal Ram declined to pay the additional sum of Rs. 300, and insisted on the marriage ceremony being performed before the remaining sum of Rs. 200 was paid. The accused persisted in their demand, and Kewal Ram on his side was equally obdurate in refusing to pay any more money. The result was that the engagement was broken off, and the "barat" returned without the marriage being celebrated. Subsequently the girl was married to someone else, and Kewal Ram instituted the criminal proceedings, which have given rise to the present revision.

(3.) It was admitted by the accused that an engagement had taken place and that the "barat" actually arrived at the house of Jia Lal, where the marriage was to be celebrated, but he pleaded that he learnt that Kewal Ram's brother-in-law (sister's husband) Mitter Sen, who was an intermediary in settling the marriage, had taken Rs. 1,300 from Kewal Ram for payment to Jia Lal and that Jia Lal greatly resented the dishonour involved in Mitter Sen's dishonest action, and therefore he declined to have the marriage celebrated, and returned the barat." In support of the case for the prosecution a number of witnesses, including Kewal Ram and Mitter Sen, were examined. Both the lower Courts have accepted the story told by the witnesses for the prosecution. The Magistrate doubted the complicity of the accused other than Jia Lal and acquitted them, giving them the benefit of doubt. Jia Lal was convicted and sentenced by the Magistrate to one year's rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 100. In appeal the learned Sessions Judge reduced the sentence of imprisonment to four months, but enhanced the sentence of fine to Rs. 250.