Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 8: A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Rajnesh Oswal and Justice Rajesh Sekhri has upheld the life-imprisonment of husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law in a dowry death case.
As per the prosecution story, one Sita Devi got married with Balwinder Singh and after sometime of marriage, her in-laws started taunting and beating her without any cause. On that day, accused Babli Chowdhary and Neelam Chowdhary caught hold of her in presence of all the family members and started abusing and beating her.
In the meantime, her mother-in-law (Pichi) brought a gallon of kerosene oil. While both the sisters-in-law caught hold of her, her mother-in-law sprinkled kerosene oil upon her and then set her on fire. In the hospital the statement of the victim was recorded and accordingly FIR for commission of offence under Sections 307/34 RPC was registered. However, Sita Devi succumbed to the injuries and thereafter the offence was converted from 307 RPC to 302 RPC.
After completion of investigation challan was presented and on February 14, 2005 1st Additional Sessions Judge Jammu convicted the appellants for commission of offences under Sections 302/498-A/149 RPC and awarded life imprisonment.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi assisted by Advocate Mohsin Bhat for the appellant whereas Additional Advocate General Amit Gupta for the UT, the DB observed, “the appellants though have led evidence in defence but the same is not trustworthy and in fact becomes meaningless in view of the cogent and strong evidence led by the prosecution”.
“The trial court has dealt with all the issues raised by the parties very aptly. The trial court has passed a well reasoned judgment by placing reliance upon the various pronouncements of Apex Court”, the DB said, adding “we have not been able to persuade ourselves to take any view other than that of trial court”.
Accordingly, DB upheld the sentence awarded to the appellants Balwinder Singh, Babli Choudhary and Neelam Choudhary.
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