IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BAN
DATED THIS THE sow DAY or NOVEMBE1§_2'()"1-bl.-. kt
PRESENT
THE HoN'BLI.: MZRJUSTICE
AND T
THE HON'BLE MR. JUsTIcEfsf;N.sATYAN.éRAyxANA
CRIMINAL APPEAL No.1I5s[9fm: 2065 (A)
C /w CRIMINAL APPEA1._1\f()..13§§ ..<v)F 2005 (C)
IN CRIMINAL APPEAL IIo.I539 1/"2oo5:,__ " V
The State by n " '
HO1€flOI1fluf_PQfiC§). 'S%:E1fiQ1':,,: " __ AppELLANT_
(By 8:1. . SPF}
AND: ' I'
1. Balrama @..Su.res;h,'~., ' 'V
S/r;:'Vasu '
_____
V' 'Nai(1u"'by _caste, Agrticulturist,
L Camp,
.BHADIIzIvA.TIiI TALUK.
DeVen_ci1'2I{ipa,
. S/0 Va:-31,1 Najdu,
xAged 39 Years,
~ N'ai-(11.1 by Caste, Agricult1Irist,
' '.. R,'c-A'Agarada1'1a11i Carxiap,
;_3HADRAVATHI TALUK.
rd
i'Q
Ravi @ R3.vik1,1mar,
S / 0 Vasu Naidu,
Aged 29 Years,
Naidu by caste,
Agriculmrist,
R/ o Agar:-xdahalli Camp,
BHADRAVATHI TALUK.
Smt.ShantharmI;.a,
W/o Narayanaswamy,
S/o Vasu Naidu,
Aged 40 Years,
Najdu by caste,
Household Work,
R/0 Agaradahafli Ca:'I1';V),5- ' j
BHADRAVATHI vTAL'{§K.--
Smt.Manga1i1ifia;' 'V . '-
W/0 VaS1§l'N:5LidU';":'_V" V f
Aged 60 Ye.a1?s.;"_ .
Najdu coasica, ' 31;; 'V
Agriculturist', V " « .
R/o Qaradahaiii': %
BHADRAVATHI TAL-UK. o
(By. S.ri.A. B 11ag§vaf:
V .» « Rad%1g1J;;:fiVsh.na, Adv.)
*W*_*_*_$M*m*
. .. RESPONDENTS.
filed Imdor Section 378(1) & (3) of the
()’i””–(31fi;1’1’1’i’rx:”é11 Procedure, aga,ins1: the Judgment dated
“–‘.-Ti,2Q_;O»1x.20O5-Vfiassed by the I)ist.r;ict 8: Sessions -Judge, Fast
V ” Shimog21, in S.C.No.25/2002 — a(:qui.ttir1g the
V13:”4″_j.,;f<ié§poi}.d'ef1ts/accused for the offence punishable under
VT . V __ j 30443 of {PC read with Section 34 of IPC.
IN CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 132/ 2005:
BETWEEN:
1.
Balrama @ Suresh,
S/0 Vasu Naidu,
Aged 29 Years,
Agriculttzfist.
Devendrappa,
S/0 Vasu Naidu,
Aged 42 Years.
Agriculturist.
Ravi @ Ravikuxnar,
S/0 Vasu Naidu, .
Aged 32 Years». — if
Agficulttlxist. P ‘i- 1 A
Smt.Shar;t’f1’é1_.111ii2aV;,_ ” _
W/0 Naraya1’:.asyvan1y.,V ._ P
Aged ”
Smt.Ma1&.ga1nin A’ 4 *
W/0 Vasu-Naidwii, ” A
Aged 6OY_ears, V’ _ V
Naidu by Caste; .
A,f;§?.’.iC11}”E1]I’iS’E, ” P
. _ AR”/’0 ‘Ajga.rada11a}1iCéfinf).
4.112: x ‘I
“S4fa.f€ A.0f_Kaf1’1éLtaka,
* By” «H_0.k_:h’c_~nI1ur Police Sta1di_0;n.
A'{§]f3y’ASri.G.BI1avaniSingh, SPP}
_V ‘ TALUK.
.(P3y_ V$fi.}’L;H’.f3’1a’é1gwa1’1 and
‘ _ VSri,/?;.’?~i,Radh3,krishna, Adv.)
*W*_>f¢_”$_*w*w=!=
.. APPELLANTS.
. .. RESPONDENT.
This appeal is filed under Section 374(1) of the (lode of
Criminal Procedure, against the Judgment dated
passed by the District & Sessions Judge, Fast Track’
Shiznoga, in S.C. No.25/2002 w convictiI1gh_tl’ie.
/accused Nos.l to 5 for the offences. punishable: “under.
Sections 498»./X and 306 of we readlw:1;h» o’se::ti_ml 3&1 Veg jl1i?:(.j
and sentencing the appellants /a(:c.usedA.f£_\Tos.Vl t,Q’VVu;l§derg_(f.
rigorous imprisonment for twogijzeeirs “ands fine of’
Rs.l,O0O/–, 1’11 default sirn-ple iriipfisloiirhent rnoriths for
the offence punishable of IPC each and
rigorous ilnprisonment l’orv:._live— with line of
Rs.2,000/– each sirriple’ for one year
for the offence’ 1;i;I:ii’sliablei,’j’.–uiiderlSeetion 306 of IPC and
further ajjjplellanltl/accused No.5 to undergo
simple and fine of Rs.1,000/– in
default, sirnjile for six months and fine of
Rs.1,00Q/'”– in deiau_ltl,Vlsi.Iriple imprisonment for six months for
1-lthe’Aoffetnce5»–.”putiishablelllltlinder Section 498-91 of {PC and simple
years and line of Rs.2,0O()/W in default,
V simple”irnpris”onrner1t for one year for the offence punishable
V under l”‘Sec-.tion”l306 of IPC, the substantive sentence of
” ” ‘in1’p3tjisTonrr1eiit shall run concurrently.
.l l”v.:Tiiese Appeals coming on for Final I–iearing this day,
nifireeilihar Rao J., delivered the following:
6
2. One R2m1es1’1, PM/.2 is the brother, _,__P.W.3
Rajartzarzil-{yank is the fath<;:1* arid P.W.15, D11a.n21ketyafi–:tfI3t is
the Itxother of the deee23.sed. With the 10!.'
p£=1h<':hayathdars, thtfy i<)eE=; the (ie<:<:-aE§erc§a1'1–fi_i t,_hef'e'i.;i_I_d–.t'o HL}'1Cb:'
house of the accused. After r.a<:g()t.'ie1t.i'11_g"'with the as,si.st;1i'1s:e"9f
pzmchayathdars, deceased s.xraS-._ '£eit ir1t.E1'e_"}1dt1SE:"' of the
accused. A couple of '"(.§.ays xtiiereatteag ttlehcieeeased has
committed suicide by t'1;1r1.gi;1;2;. 15 and others
visited the t10use~ o';é'.._t,I_1~t: z1é':e1:__.s;ee1. u
3. P.W’.2 }’i€-is .t:.t’1§;- before the police on
25;. .i2.2OG.._1_. : II:(§_1fi<:.$-t_4wa§é;'._h'e.l(:'t.' The post mortem discloses
that the death is_dV{1e :_e%§_L.z_it: ofha11g_____§ing. The death is said
-re be SuL§–.i.Ctda1 (ieat’hV.. the ease of the p1:’0seCuti(>r1 that the
‘aecttéed p,e’I”s(;I1ev.ha;rasse(_i the deceased and st1bject:ed the
(ieecE’aSee1 to e–if;.1e3tjy i’e.1:’ not ggivitug; §;_{()1d{“‘:H chain to the child by
‘her parc:=.I1t.s;. I’3ee211.1se at the 1:121ra.ssrI1er1i. and Cruelty, the
_(}e§£:6:aQS'(et<i3 is 3-said to he-we C<::mmit,ted suicicie and within a
V' .___"pe:*_i§.a(i of seven years from the date of marriage.
4. The Accus<ed is (?hé3.1'g(.'.(f for (:on1.m.i.tt1'.ng t.}.1e_..ol'fe1'1(:e
punishabie 11/ s 304 and 3{)6 {PC 1'/W sec.34 of EI3'(1;fV"i7i'ie_T1fiai
Cour'? a(:quitt.ed the accused persons ib1i '21:1._V "«Wcti{{er_. .cf)’1::-‘yit:teti£ ‘i.}:1ef
accused for ()’§fCI1C(‘tS p1m:is’r1a.l)!e 1,1/s«_4€}8¥A a.i’1t.i ‘8.(}(3’0_ i”~..IP’C_.
The State is in appeal ‘c}ig.§E£,iI1S1 111$:.”a(?(1uii.i:alVOf§§;{;(1(§’t1Séd for ah
0f§_’er1Ce pum’s1’1abk-2 11/ 3’E.}.é_;4E3 £;)}”iI'{3 a\1″1;_i t.he’éi.(:(;’1;1s(~3(1 are in
appeal for conviction for fife:-:<:e§s':p'L1:;_1,é;1ja1§1<:. u / s 498~A and
306 1'/w S€c.34 gr i'E?§i'»;
5. The evi.(§<:n(é<x:V;"«:Qf 13 discloses that the
a<:<:usA:11.s1b’:*._;m?.’;;ivir1g goid chain to the chiid
and du1*ir1g vhsr” stay {:2-:r’i1?Aéi= 1:0 her pregr12m(:y and deiivery,
V4.-vdcrcctassiti Wzzss S11b’;’ET{‘}._.(i{T§,. {<3 <':n1e1t;y and ha.rass_rI1e11t for non
.})§fi.}«'IjIi{fI]1' <)_l'~rr:r:)j*i{ty and ve.1Eu23.b1es and also for not giving a
_ T.raC:*…(.m=' Court, flfiiii mat the (1err1.23J1(i made by the
' accused did riot c0nsii.t11E"e dowry as ciefineci under the Dowry
I Pif'e':hi'bitsi0n Act. ".E'.';.1.s1'cf'()r€:, Eitfqlliflféd the acctusml for an
.___"C3.'i'i'€:i1;(:e: pu:'1.is.E1ab](: 1.2/s f3(}4~EE:?» 3'/'W S<:(:'3-4 of IPC.
8. On close sCrut.ir1y of the evidence. we {End mat .t-here is
lot of inco’;:1sister1oies betweetl the aliegations in t1tié{‘I?:fL:I{“s,r1d
in the oral evidence of P.Ws.2, 3 and 15.
that the accused <ie::nanr¢;; 1.bc:.;giVe.n V gift,
whereas I–‘.W.3–fat}’1e_r oi? the de,(o:e:_;1se.(_i does ” not speak
a1’1yth_i:ng about the demami <)i""iT.fa<:t()r by Vi,'11se_V}ao<§1jVse<i. He
only says that the 21C(:Lfse_.(i v2efe" tjerfi:-1_r1ciingV"money. The
exact quantity of money 2111c? :'1:–ittir€: degxland is not stated
in the evidence of i:';;Y§'Z;i%.
7. The P.Ws.5; 6vé;.{ci.o to be panehayathdars. who
went along xifisth P.W._3V22:.r}:'<§eFi:}'1<t:'s to leave the deeeasecl at the
house the a,(":Ct1'£s"€<i_._ 'if.he:§r <:v§<1e-nee does not disclose what
title-:.._eaL_:.1se fozr m.ai.r3:n()r1iai dispute between the
accused' on €:'ij;eVA'oI=or1e hz-1_r2.c§ 2:-met P.W.:§ and deceased on the
etller .'1"4'11ei-z" evider.:.ce only disclose that they had to
4' deceased to the house of the accused, since the
___"aee1Vi;se(1 persons did not visit the house of P.W.3 to take the
S}
deceased to their }'1()'t.lS(3 everl after ten months after .\}!.fé;5t.ef:3′
axévised the accused not tea do so anti”ti;-trea’_t. the’tie-r:e2:1sed”as ‘
Wiie. ‘I_’ hey are iI1dcpende’nt wit.r1t-:sseS.Vai:dA’their _ev<ie;ien"e:e.d'ees
not disclose any (ier'e=a.:1ci of m01<1_ey._o1' (§§emaI.1(i",fd1j"i'fact0f;
Their evidence is vague 3721151 t:h.;::'.ir <."t€)'€:'s3A net. disciose
What exactly the cause .f(.1;§'.'$ between the
parties. it is t11e§i:,Az: accused persons
threatened to but 13.Ws.5, 6 and
1:5'; z:,(iaris<:;ti"t;'t:V('f to treat the deceased
as wife, e1§an_mVe ' adviseci them not do so.
Thereibre. the e'1ide.:1:::e."-<:»:t" i:'1clependez1t witnesses does not
'vi._C.1iSc1Q§é§e'taete- (iii dei"ine(i u/s 4984-X of WC.
8. ‘5fE_’he was not. willing to marry the accused in
V the be’g;§iI1n’ir1g«”at the time of proposa;i, because the accused
sfaxriritcéring and he i’:’Eite:”a.t;<:. it is, thereifcre argued by
_'_S:*§}':i-XE'i';§j3ha,gavaz1 that. :i:1::_<~ cfémtetesczti was iimstrated by li_vi:ng
10
c(>:;di1:i()z1s amii migllt Iiiavaé {:o’1I1mitted suicicie and I’1()f.__(‘1E,1(‘) to
dowry 11a1’assmem..
9. On going through the ev§(i(:’.11(:e, we find
acquittal recorded by the ‘.I’ria1 (201.’13f<i; is. éstmrid ar1.(1 p.1_j0.pc1* aiari
does not cal! for .11z.€..erfcr<%':1(i§).::1.V’iC:ti(.rI1. ” 1.1/’S
498wA 21nd 1306 r/w S<t(:"£.i.<}:'1 34% <$*i'»l_F{T3 is z4£I1.t:<éi'1:1i)1(§, in View of
the evi(i1eI1Ce discusstéti 'ab<_)\féé. §1cfreibrc:, "E116 order of
convicttiorl is set. aside.
10. Hence the filkrci dismissed and the
appeal filgéd by” ac€?i§is(::(i’..§:s aiimxfeci.
, [ [ ‘ Azfgv. =