RANCHI, India, Jan. 3 -- Jharkhand High Court issued the following order on Dec. 2:

1. We have already heard Mr. Arvind Kumar Choudhary, learned counsel appearing for the appellant and Mr. Manoj Kumar Mishra, learned A.P.P. appearing for the State.

2. Instant criminal appeal has been preferred by above named sole appellant for setting aside the judgment of his conviction dated 27.01.2003 and order of sentence dated 28.01.2003 passed by Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court No.I, Deoghar in Sessions Case No.182 of 1996 / 425 of 2002, whereby and whereunder the appellant has been held guilty for the offence under Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life.

FACTUAL MATRIX

3. Factual matrix giving rise to this appeal is that on 15.01.1996 at about 11:00 a.m., informant Rameshwar Mandal got information that his daughter Anita Devi had fallen into a well and lying unconscious at her matrimonial home situated at Village Jagatpur. The informant along with his sons and other family members went to the matrimonial home of his daughter and saw the dead body of his daughter under suspicious circumstances. It is alleged that just prior to the occurrence, on 12.01.1996, his deceased daughter was brought by her husband, Hargauri Mandal, from her paternal home to join the matrimonial home under threat. She was frequently subjected to torture and harassment on account of additional demand of ornaments and cash which could not be fulfilled. It is further alleged that the deceased Anita Devi was also pregnant at the time of occurrence having three years' old child also. It is further alleged that the informant tried to inform the matter to the police but he was locked in the room by the appellant and his family members. Thereafter, he submitted a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Deoghar on the basis of which, the F.I.R. was lodged as Mohanpur P.S. Case No.14 of 1996 dated 15.01.1996 for the offences under Sections 304B, 120B and 201/34 of the I.P.C. and 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

4. After completion of investigation, charge-sheet was submitted against the appellant for the aforesaid offences. Accordingly, the case was committed to the Court of sessions, where Sessions Case No.182 of 1996 / 425 of 2002 was registered. The accused/appellant denied the charges levelled against him and claimed to be tried.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=WSRFLpK7bpll%2Fzvq9H5YQo12Ic8oJmEME39KitgGDshGC7h7IchrGa3zAwW2dI%2Fc&caseno=Cr.A(DB)/180/2003&cCode=1&cino=JHHC010009972003&state_code=7&appFlag=)

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