BHIM MAHTO Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS criminal appeal is directed against the judgment dated 27th March, 1999 and order of sentence dated 31st March, 1999 passed in Sessions Trial No. 311/1996, whereby learned 5th Additional Sessions Judge, Hazaribag held the appellants guilty under Sec.304 -B/34, Indian Penal Code and sentenced them to undergo R.I. for 10 years.

(2.) THE case of the prosecution in brief is that Mangal Mahto submitted a report before the officer -in -charge, Barkagaon Police Station stating therein that his daughter Sarita Kumari was married with one Suresh Mahto in the year 1993 in which sufficient dowry was given. After solemnisation of marriage his daughter remained six months in her matrimonial home and there was cordial relation between his daughter and son -in -law Suresh but subsequently there was a demand of rupees ten thousand from the daughter of the informant. The informant could not make the payment due to his poor condition which led to torture upon his daughter in various ways and she was even turned out from her matrimonial home. The informant made efforts for reconciliation but he failed and the appellant pressed for payment of rupees ten thousand. The informant took his daughter to her matrimonial home and expressed his inability to fulfil their demand and on 10.4.1996 at about 5.00 p.m. informant came to know that his daughter has died and on such information informant inferred that this daughter had been murdered by the appellants due to non -payment of dowry. On the basis of written report a case under Sections 304 -B/34, Indian Penal Code was registered being Barkagaon P.S Case No. 31/1996 dated 10.4.1996. After submission of charge -sheet, cognizance was taken and case was committed to the Court of Sessions and after framing of charges against the appellants trial proceeded and in course of trial several witnesses were examined. Learned Court below, after considering the evidence both oral and documentary, held the appellants guilty under Sections 304 -B/34, Indian Penal Code and sentenced them to undergo R.I. for 10 years. Applants had pleaded not guilty to the charges. In course of trial 12 witnesses were examined and out of 12 witnesses PW 12 has been declared hostile. PW 3 is a tendered witness and PW 11 is formal witness.

(3.) PW 1, who is Sahdeo Yadav, has come to say that Sarita Devi was suffering from heart ailment and she died of diarrhea and she died after three years of her marriage. He has further stated that her sasural people never tortured her for anything.