Baldev and Others vs The State

Dharam Veer, J.—This criminal appeal, preferred by the appellants u/s 374(2) of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter to be referred as Cr.P.C.), is directed against the judgment and order dated 18.2.1993 passed by Additional Sessions Judge/Special Judge Anticorruption, Dehradun in Sessions Trial No. 25/89, State v. Baldev and Ors. whereby the learned Additional Sessions Judge/Special Judge Anti-corruption convicted the accused/appellants, namely, Baldev, Smt. Sant Kaur and Manohar Singh under Sections 304-B and 498-A of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter to be referred as I.P.C.). The accused Baldev was sentenced to ten years'' R.I. u/s 304-B and each of the accused/appellants, namely, Smt. Sant Kaur and Manohar Singh were sentenced to seven years'' R.I. u/s 304-B. However, the co-accused persons Pritam and Jogendra alias Pummy were acquitted of the charge levelled against them by the trial court.

I have heard Sri J.C. Gupta, learned Sr. counsel assisted by Sri Anuraj Tomar, learned Counsel for the appellants and Sri M.A. Khan, learned brief holder for the State. Perused the entire material available on record.

In brief, the prosecution case is that Surjan Singh (P.W.1) lodged the report at Police Station Kotwali, District Dehradun with the averments that his sister Kulwant Kaur (deceased) was married to the appellant/accused Baldev Singh on 14.4.1985. In the marriage, about Rs. 1.00 Lac dowry was given. After the marriage, the accused/appellants Baldev, Smt. Sant Kaur and Manohar Singh and the co-accused Pritam Singh and Pummy started harassing her by saying that she has not brought dowry of their choice and she has brought less dowry. Whenever Kulwant Kaur (deceased) came to her parental house, she used to complain about her in-laws then they (Surjan Singh and his family members) used to persuade her that everything will be alright in future. About one year before, the accused Baldev came to him at Shimla and demanded money to purchase a scooter. They gave Rs. 2,000/- for the scooter and also booked a scooter at Shimla. Even after that the accused/appellants continued their demand of money. About 11/4 years before, Kulwant Kaur (deceased) gave birth to a son at Dehradun. On this, his brother Gurcharan (P.W.7) went to her in-laws house with clothes, etc. then the accused/appellants and the coaccused (acquitted by the trial court) abused his brother and also asked what he (Gurcharan) has given in dowry. The accused/appellants and co-accused also thrown his sister''s child in front of his brother and said either take his sister and her child from their house or send Rs. 50,000/-. It was also alleged that after birth of child, his sister was continuously subjected to harassment for the demand of Rs. 30,000/- which the accused Baldev and his family members had spend in the marriage. On 6.11.1985 the accused/appellants and the co-accused snatched the ornaments of Kulwant Kaur (deceased) and sold them. On 28/29.12.1985, the accused/appellant Baldev came to Shimla and made a demand of Rs. 30,000/- for purchasing a plot. He (accused Baldev) also gave the letter, written by his sister, on the dictation of his parents. When they (Surjan Singh and his family members) showed their inability, then the accused threatened them that if they want life of Kulwant then they will have to pay Rs. 30,000/-. It was also alleged that when the accused/appellants had thrown the child in front of his brother at that time they have also ousted his sister from the house. Then his sister stayed in the house of Baldev''s cousin brother. Thereafter, Panchayat was held in which Kishan Nagpal, Gurdayal Kukreja (P.W.3), Sunder Singh Narang and some other people were included. There the in-laws of his sister apologized and did a promise of not demanding dowry in future and also of not harassing Kulwant Kaur (deceased). After that her in-laws took her along with them but even after that they continued harassing her. In the last week of April 1987, the deceased Kulwant Kaur came to Shimla and told about the harassment being caused to her by her in-laws. She also told them that her in-laws are saying that if they (her parents) will not give Rs. 30,000/- cash then they will found her dead body. On 27.5.1987, his father came to Dehradun to leave Kulwant Kaur and depart for Shimla on 5.6.1987. On that day also, his sister told his father that the intention of her in-laws is not good and they will kill her. His father persuaded her that everything will be alright. It is further alleged, that on 5.6.1987 in the daytime, in-laws of his sister committed her murder by administered poison. They got this information through telephone at Shimla. On this, he reached Dehradun at 09:00 P:M in the night and there he came to know that his sister had died at 11:10 A:M. With the above-said averments, the F.I.R. was lodged by Surjan Singh (P.W.1) at Police Station Cantt, District Dehradun on 6.6.1987 at 9:05 A:M. That F.I.R. is Ext.Ka-1. On the basis of F.I.R. (Ext.Ka-1), Chik F.I.R. was prepared by Head Mohirror Mahendra Singh. That Chik F.I.R. is Ext.Ka-14. The necessary entries were also made in the G.D., carbon copy of which is Ext.Ka-15. Initially, the investigation of this case was entrusted to Sub Inspector Ompal Singh (C.W.1). Later on it was transferred to Deputy S.P. Jeevan Chand Pandey. The deceased had died on 5.6.1987. On the same day, inquest report was prepared, which is Ext.Ka-4. Along with the inquest report, Police Form No. 13 (Ext.Ka-6), sketch of the dead body (Ext.Ka-7), letter to Inspector, Police Line (Ext.Ka-8), letter to CMO for conducting the postmortem (Ext.Ka-9) and specimen of seal (Ext.Ka-10), were also prepared. Post-mortem examination of the dead body of the deceased was conducted on 5.6.1987 at 4:15 P:M by Dr. M.K. Diwedi (P.W.5), Senior Pathologist, Doon Hospital, Dehradun. Thereafter, the post-mortem report was prepared, which is Ext.Ka-5. During the course of investigation, the I.O. recorded the statement of the witnesses and collected the necessary papers. He also inspected the place of occurrence and prepared the site-plan. That site-plan is Ext.Ka-11. After completing the investigation, the I.O. filed the charge sheet against the accused/appellants, Baldev, Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur and the coaccused persons Pritam and Jogendra (acquitted by the trial court). That charge sheet is Ext.Ka-13.

Learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dehradun committed the case to the court of Sessions on 14.2.1989 after giving necessary copies to the accused/appellants and the co-accused persons, as provided u/s 207 Cr.P.C.

On 10.11.1989, learned IInd Additional Sessions Judge, Dehradun framed the charge of offence punishable under Sections 304-B and 498-A against the accused/appellants and the co-accused persons (acquitted by the trial court). The charge was read over and explained to the accused/appellants and the coaccused persons, who pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.

In order to prove its case, the prosecution has examined P.W.1 Surjan Singh-complainant of the case and brother of the deceased, P.W.2 Bayant Singh-father of the deceased, P.W.3 Gurdayal Singh-member of the Panchayat, P.W.4 Ameer Chand-witness of the inquest report, P.W.5 Dr. M.K. Diwedi, who conducted the postmortem of the dead body of the deceased, P.W.6 S.I. Omveer Singh, who has prepared the inquest report (Ext.Ka-4) and P.W.7 Gurcharan-brother of the deceased.

Thereafter, the statement of the accused/appellants and the co-accused persons (acquitted by the trial court) were recorded u/s 313 Cr.P.C. The oral and documentary evidence was put to each of them in question form, who have denied the allegations made against them. In defence, they have filed the letters and documents Ext.Kha-1 to Ext.Kha-46, as documentary evidence and in oral evidence, D.W.1 Dr. Anjana Sen, D.W.2 Dr. K.P. Singh, D.W.3 Abdul Bari, D.W.4 Dr. S.M. Sehgal, D.W.5 Guru Bachan Singh, D.W.6 Janki Das Kukreja and D.W.7 Radhakrishnan were examined.

Sub Inspector Om Pal Singh was also been examined as C.W.1.

After appreciating the entire evidence available on record and hearing learned Counsel for the parties, learned Additional Sessions Judge, Dehradun vide his judgment and order dated 18.2.1993 convicted and sentenced the accused/appellants as stated above. Against the aforesaid judgment and order, the accused/appellants have preferred the present appeal.

Before further discussion, it is pertinent to mention that the post-mortem of the deceased was conducted by Dr. M.K. Diwedi (P.W.5), Sr. Pathologist, Doon Hospital, Dehradun on 5.6.1987 at 04:15 P:M. As per the post-mortem report (Ext.Ka-5), the medical officer has opined that since the cause of death could not be ascertained hence viscera was preserved.

To prove the postmortem report (Ext.Ka-5), the prosecution has examined Dr. M.K. Diwedi (P.W.5), who has stated that on 5.6.1987 he was posted as Senior Pathologist at Doon Hospital. On that day at 04:15 P:M the dead body of the deceased was brought for postmortem which was sent by S.O. Kotwali in sealed condition through constables Subhash Chand and Magan Singh. The deceased was about 23 years old and the death was occurred about six hours before. In the internal examination, both the chambers of heart were filled with blood and its weight was found 220 gm. 60 g food material was found in the stomach from which smell of Tik 20 or finit was coming. Same smell was coming from the small intestine. Faecal matter and gases were found in the large intestine. Since the cause of death could not be ascertained hence the viscera was preserved. He has proved the post-mortem report (Ext.Ka-5).

Further to prove its case, the prosecution has examined P.W.1 Surjan Singh, who has stated that the deceased Kulwant Kaur was his younger sister, whose marriage was solemnized with the accused/appellant Baldev on 14.4.1985. He had spent about Rs. 1.00 Lac in the marriage. After the marriage, the accused/appellants, Baldev, Manohar, Sant Kaur and the co-accused Pritam and Pummy started harassing by saying that she has brought less dowry and even the dowry which she has brought is not of their choice. His sister always used to complain about the same facts. He had given Rs. 2,000/- to the accused/appellant Baldev and had booked scooter for him at Shimla but even after that her in-laws were harassing her. In February 1986, Kulwant Kaur (deceased) had given birth to a son. On this, his brother Gurcharan (P.W.7) went to house of his sister along with some articles then the accused/appellants and the coaccused abused him and demanded Rs. 50,000/-. On his refusal to give the same, they thrown the child and ousted his sister Kulwant Kaur (deceased) from the house. Then his brother took Kulwant Kaur in the house of Gur Bachan-Baldev''s cousin brother. Thereafter, his brother informed him through telephone and told about the behaviour of the accused/appellant Baldev and his family members. After getting this information, he came to Dehradun. After reaching Dehradun, they called the Panchayat of the community in which Kishan Singh, Pandit Dhulichand, Sunder Singh Narang, Guru Dayal and some other people were included. There the accused/appellants and the co-accused (acquitted by the trial court) apologized and did a promise of not demanding dowry in future and also of harassing his sister Kulwant Kaur. After that the accused/appellants and the co-accused took the deceased with them but even after that, the accused/appellants did not stop harassing his sister. In the last week of April, 1987 his sister (deceased) came to Shimla. She told him that the accused/appellants are harassing her and are demanding Rs. 30,000/- which her in-laws had spent in the marriage. On this, they convinced her that everything will be alright in future. In the last week of May, his father went to Dehradun to leave his sister at her in-laws house. On 5.6.1987, his father was going to Shimla from Dehradun. On the same day at about 11- 11:30 in the daytime he got the information that his sister has died. On this information, he alongwith his wife Inder Kaur, brother Gurcharan and sister-in-law (BABHI) Basant Kaur went to Dehradun by taxi. While going towards Dehradun they stopped their taxi at Kumar Hatti because they had received the information that his father is coming from Dehradun by Semi Deluxe bus. At about 02:00 P:M, the bus by which his father was coming arrived at Kumar Hatti. Then he informed his father about the death of his sister and after that all of them went to Dehradun. At about 09-9:30 P:M they reached Dehradun and went to the house of the accused/appellant Baldev where they saw the dead body of Kulwant Kaur lying in the open space. 8-10 ladies and some other people were present near the dead body, who were also their relatives. These people told them that the accused/appellants has told them that Kulwant Kaur has committed suicide by consuming poison. After seeing the dead body of the Kulwant, his father''s condition became serious. Then he took his father to Gurdayal''s house. Next day he lodged the report of the above-said incident. That report is Ext.Ka-1. He deposed that in the month of December 1985, the accused/appellant Baldev came to Shimla and demanded Rs. 30,000/- for purchasing a plot. When he and his family members showed their inability, then the accused Baldev threatened them that he will continue harassing Kulwant Kaur. In December 1985, his sister told him that the accused Baldev has sold her ornaments after snatching it from her. She also showed the paper of selling the ornaments which the shopkeeper had given to her husband. He also deposed that when the accused/appellant Baldev had come to demand Rs. 30,000/- then he had also given letter, written by sister Anju on the direction of her father Manohar Singh. That letter is Ext.Ka-3.

In the cross-examination, he has stated that the accused/appellant Manohar Singh was employed at Faridabad where he was living with his wife. Before 3-4 months of the said incident, the accused/appellant Manohar Singh had come to Dehradun after taking retirement. He further stated that the letters Ext.Kha-1 to Kha-26 are in the handwriting of the deceased and the letters Ext.Kha-27 to Kha-33 are written by his sister Amrit. Letters Ext.Kha-34 and Kha-35 are written by him. He has stated that the accused/appellants has administered poison to his sister. He is saying so because the accused/appellants were torturing his sister for the demand of dowry. He has denied the fact this his sister was ill. He has stated that the letter Ext.Kha-36 is written by him and the letter Ext.Kha-37 is written by his sister.

P.W.2 is Bayant Singh, who has stated that his daughter was married to the accused/appellant Baldev in April, 1985. After the marriage, behaviour of the accused/appellant Baldev was bad towards his daughter. The accused/appellant Baldev used to harass his daughter for the demand of money. He used to demand Rs. 50,000/- which he had spent in the marriage. In December, the accused/appellant Baldev came to Shimla and demanded money. He (accused Baldev) also brought a letter which was written by his sister. The accused/appellant said that his father has demanded Rs. 30,000/-. He further stated that his son has gone to brought Kulwant (deceased) for the marriage and she had come to attend the marriage. The accused/appellant Baldev had also came with her and both of them stayed there for two or three days. In February 1986, Kulwant (deceased) had given birth to a son then Gurcharan (P.W.7) had taken clothes for them. When Gurcharan returned Shimla then he told that the accused/appellants Baldev, his mother and the coaccused Pritam and Pummy bickered with him for the demand of money. His son told him that they were demanding Rs. 30,000/- and had warned him that if they would not pay the said amount then ill-treatment towards Kulwant (deceased) will remain same. After that his son took his daughter in the house of Baldev''s cousin brother and the Panchayat of the community was called. In the year 1987, the accused/appellant Baldev and Kulwant (deceased) came to Shimla and demanded money. On his refusal, the accused left his daughter in his house. Then he alongwith Kulwant came to Dehradun and left his daughter at Baldev''s house and requested the accused/appellant Baldev to keep his daughter in proper manner. Thereafter he went to Chakrata. When he came back from Chakrata his daughter told him that they are harassing her. She also told him that that they will kill her. On the same day i.e. on 5.6.1987 at 7:25 A:M he depart for Shimla. While going towards Shimla when he reached Kumar Hatti, his sons Surjan Singh (P.W.1) and Gurcharan Singh (P.W.7) met him and informed him about the death of his daughter. Then he alongwith his sons came to Dehradun. When he reached there, he saw the dead body of his daughter lying in the courtyard. When he had gone from Dehradun his daughter had worn Firoji colour clothes and when he saw the dead body then he saw brown colour clothes. After that his condition became serious and his sons took him to Gurudayal''s (P.W.3) house.

P.W.3 is Gurudayal, who has stated that the marriage of the appellant/accused Baldev and the deceased Kulwant had taken place at Shimla and he is familiar with the family of the deceased. The accused/appellant Baldev and the deceased were annoyed with each other due to demand of dowry. The accused Baldev used to demand dowry. In February 1986, Kulwant (deceased) gave birth to a son. On this, Gurcharan Singh (P.W.7) came from Shimla. In the night, Gurcharan came to his house and told him that he has left his sister in the house of her brother-in-law (DEVAR) and the accused/appellants and the co-accused have ousted her from the house. He also told him that the accused/appellant Baldev and his parents are demanding Rs. 50,000/- and the accused/appellants also thrown clothes which he brought for Kulwant''s child. After that Gurcharan went to the brother-in-law''s house of his sister. Next day, Panchayat held at 05:00 P:M in which he, Tarachand, Kukreja, Kishan Nagpal, Sunder Singh Narang and Sardar Bhagwan Singh and Pandit Dhulichand were included. The accused/appellants Manohar Singh, Baldev, Baldev''s mother and the coaccused were present there. Surjan Singh (P.W.1) had also come from Shimla. In the Panchayat, the accused/appellants and the co-accused apologized and also did promise for good behaviour in future. After that they (accused/appellants) took Kulwant with them. In the year 1987, Surjan Singh-brother of Kulwant (deceased) came to him and told him that Kulwant has died. Then he took him (Surjan Singh) in the house of the accused/appellants. Surjan Singh (P.W.1) told him that his sister has died due to consumption of poison.

P.W.4 is Ameer Chand, who has stated that on the death of Kulwant Kaur, the police prepared the inquest report and he also signed on it. He has proved the inquest report Ext.Ka-4.

P.W.6 is S.I. Omveer Singh, who has stated that on 5.6.1987, he was posted as S.I. at Police Station Kotwali, Dehradun. On that day at 02:30 P:M, after appointing the Panchas Tara Chand, Ameer Chand, Sant Ram, Kishan Singh and Charan Singh, he prepared the inquest report (Ext.Ka-4) and also inspected the dead body of the deceased. Froth was coming out from the nose of the deceased. Along with the inquest report, he also prepared the Challan Lash (Ext.Ka-6), sketch of the dead body (Ext.Ka-7), letter to R.I. (Ext.Ka-8) and C.M.O. (Ext.Ka-9) for conducting the post-mortem and specimen of seal (Ext.Ka-10). After the inquest report, the dead body was sent for post mortem in sealed condition through Constables Magan Singh and Subhash Chandra.

P.W.7 is Gurucharan Singh, who has stated that the Kulwant Kaur (deceased) was his younger sister, whose marriage was solemnized with the accused/appellant Baldev. In the marriage, they had given items worth Rs. 1.00 Lac. After some days of the marriage, the accused/appellants and the co-accused started taunting and beating her for bringing less dowry. This fact was told to him and his parents by his sister when she came to her parental house. They all persuaded her that everything will be fine. After 5-6 months of the marriage, the accused/appellant Baldev came to Shimla and made a demand of scooter. His brother Surjan Singh (P.W.1) gave Rs. 2,000/- to the accused Baldev to book scooter but even after that the demand of dowry of the accused remained same. The accused/appellant Baldev cancelled the booking of the scooter and kept Rs. 2,000/-. The accused/appellants and the co-accused had made a demand of Rs. 50,000/- and they used to say that if the demand of Rs. 50,000/- would not met then they will continue committing Marpeet with his sister. On 6.11.1985, the accused/appellant Baldev mortgaged his sister''s ornaments which they sold after some days. The accused Baldev had brought a letter (Ext.Ka-3) with him. After this letter, they did not give money to the accused/appellants because they were having no money at that time. In February, 1986 his sister gave birth to a son. On this, he went to Dehradun along with clothes and some other articles for the child. Then Kulwant (deceased) told him that from when he and his family members have refused to give money since then the accused/appellant Baldev and his family members have increased their harassment upon her. On this, the accused/appellants and the co-accused abused him. Baldev''s mother thrown the newly born child and asked to take that child and his sister. She also demanded Rs. 50,000/- otherwise they will not keep his sister. Then in the night, he along with his sister and the child stayed in the house of Gurubachan-Baldev''s cousin brother. On the same day, he informed his brother Surjan Singh (P.W.1) through telephone and called him from Shimla to Dehradun. Next day Surjan Singh came to Dehradun then they called the Panchayat of the community. There the accused/appellants and the co-accused apologized and did a promise of not demanding dowry in future and also of not harassing Kulwant Kaur (deceased). From there the accused/appellants took Kulwant Kaur (deceased)and her child to their house. In April 1987, Kulwant (deceased), accused/appellant Baldev and their son came to Shimla. Then Kulwant (deceased) told that the accused/appellants commit Marpeet with her. After that he talked with the accused Baldev. The accused made a demand of money. After leaving the deceased in Shimla, the accused Baldev went to his house. After sometime, in the month of May, 1987, his father along with the deceased went to her in-laws house. Thereafter his father went to Chakrata. When he came back from Chakrata then the deceased told his father that the intention of the accused/appellants and the co-accused is not good and they will kill her. On this, his father called the accused/appellant Baldev and his family members and persuaded them. On 5.6.1987 at 07:20 A:M, his father depart for Shimla from Dehradun. On the same day at 12-12:30 P:M they got the information through telephone that his sister has died by consuming poison. After this, he and his brother Surjan Singh (P.W.1) along with their wives depart for Shimla. They met their father at Kumar Hatti. They told the entire incident to his father. Then his father along with them also went to Dehradun. In the night at about 9-9:30 P:M they reached at the accused Baldev''s house. There they saw the dead body of Kulwant (deceased) lying in the courtyard and 6-7 relatives were present there. They enquired from the people who told them that she has died due to consumption of poison. They took the dead body into their possession and went to Haridwar for cremation. The report of the said incident was lodged by his elder brother.

Thereafter, the statement of the accused/appellants and the co-accused persons (acquitted by the trial court) were recorded u/s 313 Cr.P.C. The oral and documentary evidence was put to each of them in question form, who have denied the allegations made against them. In reply to question No. 16, the accused/appellant Baldev has stated that on the date of incident, his parents were at Faridabad where his father was working and he was not present in the house at the time of incident. In reply to questions, the accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Sant Kaur both have stated that on the date of incident they were at Faridabad. After getting the information about the death of the deceased through telephone at Faridabad they reached Dehradun. In defence, the accused/appellants have filed the letters and documents Ext.Kha-1 to Ext.Kha-46, as documentary evidence and in oral evidence, D.W.1 Dr. Anjana Sen, D.W.2 Dr. K.P. Singh, D.W.3 Abdul Bari, D.W.4 Dr. S.M. Sehgal, D.W.5 Guru Bachan Singh, D.W.6 Janki Das Kukreja and D.W.7 Radhakrishnan were examined.

D.W.1 is Dr. Anjana Sen, who has stated that she is posted as Medical Officer at ONGC Hospital since February, 1985. There the free medical treatment facilities are available to the employees and their family members and out patient booklet are provided to them regarding their treatment. The out patient booklet number of Smt. Kulwant Dushwal was 0126. She had examined Kulwant Kaur for the last time on 30.5.1987. She had detected her axillary lymph node and for that she had advised blood and urine test and had referred her to Surgeon. On 5.6.1987 at 12:00 P:M in the noon, the deceased had gone for blood test at their main clinic at Lytton Road. The blood and urine test of Smt. Kulwant were conducted under the supervision of Dr. S.L. Gupta. She has further stated that on 30.5.1987, she had referred Smt. Kulwant for L.N. Biopsy to Dr. A.S. Anand, Departmental Surgeon but she did not go for the same. After the death of Kulwant Dushwal, the out patient booklet of the deceased was cancelled. On 7.12.1985, as the delivery facilities were not available in their hospital so she had referred the deceased for delivery to Dr. Rukmani. On 1.1.1986 she had again referred Smt. Kulwant. She further stated that she had doubt of tuberculosis so she had referred the Smt. Kulwant for biopsy. Smt. Kulwant was getting treatment for chronic ailment.

In the cross-examination, she has stated that being a medical expert she cannot say in written confirmation which disease Smt. Kulwant was suffering from.

D.W.2 is Dr. K.P. Singh, who has stated that in June, 1987 he was posted as Head Lab Technician at ONGC Hospital. Medical facilities are available from the dispensary to the employees of the ONGC and their family members. On 5.6.1987, the urine and blood test, referred by Dr. Anjana Sen to Smt. Kulwant Dushwal were conducted in their lab. He has proved the documents Ext.Kha-42 and Kha-43. On 5.6.1987, urine test of Smt. Kulwant was conducted. For that he has filed the photostat copy of the register, which is Ext.Kha-44. He has also proved the document Ext.Kha-45.

D.W.3 is Abdul Bari, who has stated that the accused/appellant Baldev and his wife Kulwant were known to him since 1986. He was neighbour of the accused/appellant Baldev. He has further stated that the accused/appellant Baldev and his wife along with their child were living there. Their family members were not living with them. Both these persons lived there for about one year. Being a neighbour, Smt. Kulwant often used to come in their house. Kulwant Kaur never complained to him or his wife that her husband and in-laws harass her. On 5.6.1987 at 07-7:15 A:M, he saw Kulwant going alongwith her husband. At about 09:00 A:M they came back. When he came during lunch hours, then he got the information about the death of the deceased. He further stated that after receiving the information, parents of the accused/appellant reached there at about 05:00 A:M on next day.

In the cross-examination, he has stated that on 4.6.1987 in the evening, he had seen the father of Kulwant at Baldev''s house. He had not enquired about the said fact from her. He had not attended the marriage of Kulwnat and the accused Baldev and he does not know what transaction had taken place in the marriage.

D.W.4 is Dr. S.M. Sehgal, who has stated on 5.6.1987, he was posted as Medical Officer at Doon Hospital. On that day, Smt. Kulwant Dushwal was brought by her husband in his hospital for treatment. When the deceased was brought then her general condition was poor. She was in the gasping condition and there was no pulse. B.P. was not recordable. Entry regarding the deceased on 5.6.1987 at 10:50 A:M was made in the injury register, copy of which is Ext.Kha-46. He further stated that the said case was of poisoning.

In the cross-examination, he has stated that the accused/appellant Baldev had told him that the deceased has taken some liquid.

D.W.5 is Guru Bachan Singh, who has stated that the name of Panchayat of his community is Parachinar Community, which is a registered body. In the year 1986, he along with his family was living at F-12 Yamuna Colony. The accused/appellant Baldev is his cousin. The accused Baldev and his family members are members of the said Panchayat. In February, 1986 brother-in-law of the accused Baldev and the deceased Kulwant Kaur never came to meet him in his quarter. They also never complained against the accused/appellant Baldev and his family members about the fact of ousting and demanding dowry. He further stated that the said Panchayat received no complaint against the accused Baldev and his family members regarding the demand of dowry.

In the cross-examination, he has stated that his grandfather and the accused/appellant Baldev''s grandfather are real cousin brothers. He further stated that in the first week of February, 1986, Kulwant Kuar had given birth to a child. At that time he was in Dehradun. On this occasion, Gurucharan Singh (P.W.7) had came but he does not know what articles Gurucharan Singh had brought.

D.W.6 is Janki Das Kukreja, who has stated that he is the Secretary of the Parachinar. Register is maintained in the Panchayat by the Secretary and the proceedings of the community are also written in it. There is no entry in the said register regarding the meeting in February, 1986. The accused/appellant Baldev and his family members are members of the same Panchayat.

In the cross-examination, he has stated that in case of oral complaints they try to solve the dispute by going in the house as an individual capacity.

D.W.7 is Radhakrishnan, who has stated that in September 1987, he was posted as Manager at Government India Press in Faridabad. He retired from the said post on 31.05.1989. The accused/appellant Manohar Singh was posted as Binder Grade II in the same department. Government accommodation was allotted to the accused Manohar Singh at Faridabad. On 4.7.1987, the accused/appellant Manohar Singh had applied for voluntary retirement. On the said application, the accused was retired from the department on 4.7.1987. He further stated that attendance register of the accused/appellant Manohar Singh has been weeded out as per rules.

In the cross-examination, he has stated that he could not say on which date the accused/appellant Manohar Singh was present in the office and on which date he was absent. He further stated that he could not say on which date the accused/appellant Manohar Singh was on leave in June and February, 1986.

Sub Inspector Om Pal Singh is C.W.1, who has stated that on 6.6.1987, he was posted as In-charge at Chowki Panditwari, P.S. Cantt. On that day, the investigation of this case was entrusted to him. During the course of investigation, he recorded the copy of the F.I.R. and G.D. in the C.D. and recorded the statement of Head Mohirror Mahendra Singh. On the same day, he arrested the accused/appellants Baldev and Sant Kaur. On 10.6.1987, the investigation of this case was transferred to the then C.O. City, Sri Jeevan Chandra Pandey, who during the course of investigation recorded the statement of the witnesses, inspected the place of occurrence and prepared the site-plan Ext.Ka-11. He also recovered the baygone spray from the place of occurrence and the FARD (Ext.Ka-12) was prepared and Jeevan Chandra Pandey signed on it. After completing the investigation, Jeevan Chandra Pandey filed the charge sheet against the accused/appellants and the co-accused (acquitted by the trial court). That charge sheet is Ext.Ka- 13. He has proved the Chik F.I.R. (Ext.Ka-14) and the G.D. (Ext.Ka-15). During the investigation, viscera was sent for chemical examination and its report is filed by him in the court.

Sri J.C. Gupta, learned Sr. Counsel has submitted that on the basis of the evidence as discussed above, the prosecution has not proved its case against the accused/appellants u/s 304-B and 498-A IPC. As regards the case of accused/appellant Baldev, I do not find force in the argument raised by learned senior counsel but so far as the case against accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur is concerned, the argument of learned senior counsel seems to be reasonable. Before further discussion, it is pertinent to mention Section 304-B of IPC, which reads as under:

[304B. Dowry Death - (1) Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called "dowry death", and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death.

Explanation - For the purpose of this Sub-section, "dowry" shall have the same meaning as in Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (28 of 1961). (2) Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extended to imprisonment for life.]

''Cruelty'' has been defined in Section 498-A of IPC, which is also reproduced as under:

498-A. Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty - Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation-For the purpose of this section, "cruelty" means-

(a) any willful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman; or

(b) harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demand.

Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 is also relevant to mention here which provides definition of Dowry, which is reproduced as under:

Definition of ''dowry''- In this Act, "dowry" means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly.

(a) by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage; or

(b) by the parent of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either party to the marriage or to any other person.

At or before [or any time after the marriage] [in connection with the marriage of the said parties, but does not include] dower or mahr in the case of persons to whom the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) applies.

Explanation II- The expression "valuable security" has the same meaning as in Section 30 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

Section 113-B of Indian Evidence Act, 1872 is also relevant to mention here which also reads as under:

[113-B. Presumption as to dowry death- the question is whether a person has committed the dowry death of a woman and it is shown that soon before her death such woman had been subjected by such person to cruelty or harassment for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, the Court shall presume that such person had caused the dowry death.

Explanation - For the purposes of this section "dowry death", shall have the same meaning as in Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).]

To prove the evidence u/s 304-B, it is essential to prove the following essentials (1) Death of a woman should be caused by any burns or bodily injury or otherwise than under normal circumstances, (2) death should be caused within seven years of marriage, (3) soon before her death, the woman must have subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry.

From a perusal of the evidence, it is proved that the deceased Kulwant Kaur had not died in normal circumstances. From the evidence of P.W.1 Surjan Singh, P.W.2 Bayant Singh, P.W.3 Guru Dayal and P.W.7 Guru Charan, it is well established that the Kulwant Kaur had died in the house of accused/appellant Baldev due to consumption of poison and that is not a death in normal circumstances.

The next circumstance is that Kulwant Kaur was married on 14.4.1985 and she had died on 5.6.1987 i.e. after about two years and one month of marriage i.e. less than 7 years of her marriage and this is an admitted fact between both the parties from the evidence. P.W.1 Surjan Singh, P.W.2 Bayant Singh and P.W.7 Guru Charan have clearly stated in their statements that the marriage of Kulwant Kaur was solemnized on 14.4.1985 and she had died on 5.6.1987 at her husband''s house and this fact was also admitted in the statement recorded u/s 313 of Cr.P.C. of the accused/appellants and the coaccused.

From the statement of P.W.1 Surjan Singh, P.W.2 Bayant Singh, P.W.3 Guru Dayal and P.W.7 Guru Charan, it is well established by the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt that deceased Kulwant Kaur was mentally and physically tortured and harassed for the demand of dowry soon before her death by the accused/appellant Baldev. In the F.I.R. as well as in the statement of P.W.7 Guru Charan Singh, it has come that in the marriage of Kulwant (deceased) and the accused/appellant Baldev, dowry of about Rs. 1.00 Lac was given to the accused/appellant Baldev. After the marriage, the accused/appellant Baldev was harassing Kulwant for the demand of dowry. The deceased used to complain about the same facts to her family members. After 5-6 months of the marriage, the accused Baldev came to Shimla and made a demand of scooter. On this, Rs. 2,000/- was given to the accused/appellant Baldev to book scooter but even after that the accused/appellant Baldev did not stop demanding dowry. The accused/appellant had a demand of Rs. 50,000/- and for that he used to commit Marpeet with the deceased. On 6.11.1985, the accused/appellant Baldev mortgaged the ornaments of the deceased and after some days he sold the same to the jeweller. In February 1986, when Kulwant Kaur (deceased) gave birth to a son then the brother of the deceased went to her house alongwith clothes and some articles for the child. On this, the accused/appellant Baldev abused him and demanded Rs. 50,000/- and also said that if the money would not be paid then he will not keep Kulwant Kaur with him. Thereafter on the next day Panchayat was held. In the Panchayat, the accused/appellant Baldev apologized and said that in future he will not harass Kulwant Kaur and also will not demand dowry. In April 1987, soon before her death, when Smt. Kulwant (deceased) came to her parental house then she told the fact of harassment committed upon her by the accused/appellant Baldev and also the fact of demand of Rs. 30,000/-. After this father of the deceased went to Dehradun to leave his daughter (deceased) at her in-laws house. On 5.6.1987 when her father was going back to his house, then on that day also, the deceased told her father about the intention of the accused/appellant. On the same day, brother of the deceased got the information that his sister has died. After this, they came to her house and enquired from the people. Then they came to know that Kulwant Kaur has died due to consumption of poison. Next day, F.I.R. of the said incident was lodged. Further, it has come in the statement of P.W.1 Surjan Singh that in the month of December 1985, the accused/appellant Baldev came to Shimla and demanded Rs. 30,000/- for purchasing a plot. When he and his family members showed their inability, then the accused Baldev threatened them that he will continue harassing Kulwant Kaur (deceased). Thus from the above-said fact, it is well established and proved that the deceased Kulwant Kaur was mentally and physically tortured and harassed by the accused/appellant Baldev soon before her death for the demand of dowry. Firstly, after 5-6 months of the marriage the accused/appellant Baldev went to Shimla and demanded scooter. On this, Rs. 2,000/- was given to him. Thereafter, the accused/appellant mortgaged the ornaments of the deceased. Later on which were sold by him. In December 1985, the accused/appellant again came to Shimla and demanded Rs. 30,000/- for purchasing a plot and threatened to kill the deceased if the money would not be paid. In February 1986, when Kulwant Kaur (deceased) gave birth to a son then her brother came to see her and her child. Then again Rs. 50,000/- was demanded from him by the accused/appellant Baldev. Lastly, in April 1987, soon before the death, Kulwant Kaur (deceased) came to her parental house and told her parents that the accused/appellant Baldev is threatening to her life for the demand of Rs. 30,000/-.

Learned Counsel for the accused/appellants further argued that the accused/appellant Baldev has only demanded money for purchasing the scooter and plot. The money was demanded by the accused Baldev for his personal use and as such, it does not comes under the definition of dowry. I do not find force in the argument advanced by learned Counsel for the accused/appellants as in the F.I.R. there is specific allegation of dowry against the accused/appellant Baldev in which it is alleged that the deceased was being harassed by the accused/appellant Baldev for the demand of dowry. This fact of dowry is also proved from the statement of P.W.1 Surjan Singh, P.W.2 Bayant Singh, P.W.3 Guru Dayal and P.W.7 Guru Charan. Thus, it is proved that the money demanded by the accused/appellant Baldev was not for personal use rather it was demanded as a demand of dowry.

Learned senior counsel has further argued that the deceased has committed suicide due to illness. I do not find force in this argument as the deceased was not ailing with serious disease due to which she would commit suicide. Dr. Anjana Sen (D.W.1) has stated that being a medical expert she cannot say in written confirmation from which disease Smt. Kulwant was suffering. She had doubt of Tuberculosis which requires one year''s time for treatment. For the sake of arguments, if it is accepted that the deceased was suffering from T.B., in that case also, it is not possible that the deceased would commit suicide for such curable disease.

Apart from the above-said facts, it is also important to mention that D.W.1 Dr. Anjana Sen, in her statement, has stated that on 5.6.1987 at 12:00 in the noon, the deceased had gone for blood test at their main clinic at Lytton Road. However, D.W.2 Dr. K.P. Singh has stated that on 5.6.1987 blood and urine tests of Smt. Kulwant Dushwal were conducted and the lab timings for taking sample of the patients is between 8-10 A:M. Further, Dr. S.M. Sehgal (D.W.4) has stated that on 5.6.1987 at 10:50 A:M he medically examined Smt. Kulwant (deceased) who was brought into hospital by her husband in serious condition. At that time, the deceased was in gasping condition and there was no pulse. Her B.P. was not recordable. Contrary to the statement of above-said doctors, Dr. M.K. Diwedi (P.W.5) who conducted the postmortem of the dead body of the deceased on 5.6.1987 at 04:15 P:M has stated that in his opinion death of the deceased had occurred six hours before. In this way, it is clear that the deceased died at about 10-11 A:M on 5.6.1987. Thus, from this fact, the statement of Dr. Anjana Sen (D.W.1), Dr. K.P. Singh (D.W.2) and Dr. S.M. Sehgal (D.W.4) are contradictory with each other. Besides this, their statements are also contradictory with the post-mortem report (Ext.Ka-5) which reveals that the death of the deceased had occurred on 5.6.1987 at about 10-11 A:M. Thus, the statement of Dr. Anjana Sen (D.W.1), Dr. K.P. Singh (D.W.2) and Dr. S.M. Sehgal (D.W.4) are not reliable and their statement does not inspire confidence.

Learned senior counsel for the appellants further argued that there is no direct allegation of the demand of dowry against the accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur. I find force in the argument raised by learned Counsel for the accused/appellants since there is no direct allegation against these accused/appellants and even the allegations which are made against the accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur in the F.I.R. are general in nature. From the evidence discussed above, it is clear that the accused/appellant Baldev was annoyed with Smt. Kulwant Kaur (deceased) due to demand of dowry. The accused/appellant Baldev used to demand dowry from her. Besides this, Abdul Bari (D.W.3) has also stated that the accused/appellant Baldev alongwith his wife Smt. Kulwant Kaur (deceased) and son were living at ONGC Colony and their other family members were not living with them at their residence. He has also deposed that the accused/appellant Manohar Singh was employed at Faridabad and this fact is also corroborated by D.W.7 Radhakrishnan, who has stated that the government accommodation was allotted to the accused/appellant Manohar Singh at Faridabad. On 4.7.1987, the accused/appellant Manohar Singh applied for the voluntary retirement. Thereafter he was retired from the department. The accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur has also stated in their statement, recorded u/s 313 Cr.P.C., that at the time of the incident the accused/appellant Manohar Singh along with his wife accused/appellant Smt. Sant Kaur was at Faridabad and after getting the information about the death of the deceased, accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur reached Dehradun, next day. Thus, from the above-said fact, it is clear that on the date of incident the accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur were not present at Dehradun. Apart from this, there is no evidence against the accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur which can show that soon before her death the deceased was mentally and physically tortured by the accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur for the demand of dowry.

Thus, from the above-said facts and circumstances of the case, the prosecution has proved its case against the accused/appellant Baldev beyond reasonable doubt under Sections 304-B and 498-A I.P.C. and I also concur with the view taken by the trial court while convicting and sentencing the accused/appellant Baldev. However, the prosecution has failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur under Sections 304-B and 498-A I.P.C. and they are liable to be acquitted for the same.

For the reasons recorded above, the appeal preferred by the accused/appellant Baldev is dismissed. The judgment and order dated 18.2.1993 passed by Additional Sessions Judge/Special Judge Anticorruption, Dehradun in Sessions Trial No. 25/89, State v. Baldev and Ors. convicting and sentencing the accused/appellant Baldev is hereby affirmed. Appellant Baldev is on bail. His bail bonds are cancelled. Let him be taken on custody forthwith in order to serve out the sentence as directed by the court below against him.

However, the appeal preferred by the accused/appellants Manohar Singh and Smt. Sant Kaur is hereby allowed. Their conviction and sentence as directed by the court below, which has been discussed above, is hereby set aside. They are on bail. They need not surrender unless required in any other case.

A copy of this order shall be sent forthwith to the trial court concerned for compliance of the order.