MALLIIKARJUN S/C) DODDASUNKAPPA KITTUR v. STATE BY POLICE INSPECTOR

Judgment

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ICARNATAKA CIRCUIT B ENC H AT D HARWAD DATED THIS THE 24’ DAY OF AUGUST, 201 1 BEFORE THE HON T3LE MR.JUSTTCE F3.VPINTO CRL.A.NO7jO06 Between: MALLIIKARJUN S/C) DODDASUNKAPPA KITTUR AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, R/OF. BHUVEERAPURA VILLAGE, TALUK HAVERI, DISTRiCT HAVERI. (By SRI. M.I I.PAlI I ANJI) SRI SOMASHEKAR ANGADI, ADVS.) And: STATE BY POLICE INSPECTOR t\NTJ DOWRY CELL BANGALORE, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR. APPELLANT (By Sri ANJAND K NAVAIC1RIAlI I. IICGR) RESPONDENT THIS CRIMINAL APPLAL IS lILED I ADV()C ‘UI TI PG MI NI DI ( 2 ( \ \ (> ( 2 I OR DII \PPI El AN I C CI 511) S I \( ( I P 1I 2OS I’ \SSI I) B\ DII \I’ii I \ I I III I S 374 CRRC BY THE IHI ‘\( iAI\S 1 \ SC H \\ I RI P IL) oR 01 IL NJCI ILS 4P8u\) OL WE ;\NI) Si NiLNCINJG I Ii\I iN.i)iPj1() I I. \i\I \\i) 1() P\’i I 1\I UI R’ I — II) -2- THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL COMiNG ON FOR HEARING THIS DAY. THE COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: JUDGMENT This appeal is filed challenging the judgment dated

14.12.2005 passed by the Sessions Judge, Haveri S.C.No.62/ 2002 convicting the appellant the offence under Section 498A !PC and sentencing him to undergo R.I. for a period of one year and to pay a fine of Rs.2,000/- in default, to undergo R.I. for three months.

2. It is the case of the prosecution that the appellant being the husband of the deceased Rathnavva, the marriage between them took place six years prior to 03.04.2002 and at the time of marriage, the appellant received Rs. 10,000/- in cash, two tholas of gold and utensils as dowry and thereafter, harassed and ill-treated the deceased physically and mentally by demanding her to bring more money from her parents house for his expenses of drinking, thereby, he is alleged to committed an offence under Section 48A IPC. Secondly, is alleged that being unable to tolerate the harassment ill-treatment deceased -3- Rathnavva, in connection with demand for down, committed suicide on 03.04.2002 at 10.00 p.m.. by setting herself on fire after pouring kerosene thereby, he is alleged to have committed offence under Section 304B IPC. It is also alleged that the accused has demanded and accepted a sum of Rs.10,000/- as dowry during the time of marriage and he further demanded a sum of Rs.1,500/- and Rs.1,000/- on different occasions after the marriage and also did not return the amount of dowry received by him after the death of the deceased thereby, he is alleged to have committed offences under Sections 3, 4, and 6 of Dowry Prohibition Act.

3. The prosecution in order to prove the case, has examined in all 29 witnesses and got marked Exs.P1 to P36 and produced MOl — Kerosene Can. The defence of the accused was one of total denial. After hearing the prosecution and the defence, the learned Sessions Judge was pleased to acquit the accused of the offences under Section 304 B [PC and Sections 3, 4 and 6 of Dowry Prohibition Act, while convicting him for the offence under Section 498A [PC a l UU C D C rC D U l C UC D U l D C U— C 3 - l C D C D C C C U- D C l D C C U U D C D C D C l C U D C l C l C D C D C * U U D C C - D C D C e - U D C - D C l C ) l U C U - U l C — D C l U D C C D C h T , U D C D C — - C C - l C D C l U U C ) U 1 >UUUC l U- CU l f U C C DU- CUC DC C l l C D C U ) U - r U C D . x ) ) C C U - D C U D C D C D C — i - D C D C e - U U D C D C U - C i — ) U l U U C U . D C U D C U j l U C — D C D C C l C D C l C D C D C D C - . — C D C C r D C - - D C U U D C D C D C l C U < D C C - l C D D C D C D C l C C 3 - l C D C l D C < C — D C U D C D C t - U - U D C l C . D C D C C l C D C D C D C D C l C - D C l D C C U U < D C < . . . c C i . U U Q l U C D C U D C C l ( l C D C C U l C D C d - U D C U D C D C D C - “ D C , C D C - D C U l U C J - D C U U U o D C D C D C - D C C - - D C C - l C D C D C D C U a D C D D C C - D C U * r . D C C D C U D C D C - l U C D C ) - U C U O C > l C U D C D C D U C C- DQ C c r D C j -- ) C D C D C D C * - r C c H j - - D C U D C D C U — U D C l C U ± j U r l C D C _ _ U U e - • U U C - c D C U D C - - r D- C r o l C D C - o D C . - b D C C l D C C 1 “ Q J ( l C DU- CUC C lxCC DC ) U CU - l C D C C D C C C - UU C r DUo l U U ( U D C r D C DC C U l UUC l C D U C D C DU C D C l 4U C - D C D D U C C D C C UC D D C D C D C D C C - D C C l D CCU- C i D C DU- C C l C UC - c DU C D C D C C U C D C C D C D C DUC D C DC C l l l . l r o D C l C U- CUC D D C .C D C l l C 4 - D C D C D UC D U C U UC D C D C ( l t C r D U C a C - D UU UUC UUC D l € _ _ m c . — m c C * — i c Q i c m c m c — l i c m c C C m c — m c m c — m c _ l C — l m c C m c C m c m c C C C C • • + i c m c m c j H - - . — m c C m c l m c m c C . _ C C * - r “ - - - . — i c Z m c C - C l C m c m c ) i c i - c - — C m c m c C C - H — ) C m c l C m c i c m c - l C i c z C - C m c o c J . — m c m c C - o ) - m c m c l C m c C l C m c m c m c H — Q C i c m c * i i c — C i c ) - m c m c m c m c ) C — 1 C m c C — - - i i c i c i c m c l C l C l C i - — m c - C i Q ) c ) N t i c , , l C l C C • m c C - l C m c C m c C Z m c l C m c m c p l C — i c C ) _ < . ) 1 m c m c ) C m c i c m c l C m c C 1 l C C t r m c m c m c i i c l C m c i c l C r m c m c - - C C C • Q ) ( ) ) C C — i c l C C Q 1 P 0 i c 0 l C - ’ V m c 3 m c l C 1 — t r m c m c . B ) i : m c l C m c ) l C m c l C i c i — l C m c c - 6 to bring money and since, their financial situation was not proper, whenever the accused was asking money she ns sending little money It is stated in the complaint that on

04.04.2002 she was informed over phone that her daughter has been admitted in the KIMS Hospital, Hubil with burn injuries caused to her on 03.04.2002 at 10 p.m. When she went to the hospital, she saw her daughter with burn injuries and her entire body was burnt. It was disclosed to her by the deceased that the accused poured kerosene on her when she was sleeping. The deceased died at about 11.15 p.m., on

04.04.2002. On the basis of the above complaint, investigation was conducted and charge sheet came to be filed.

8. PW. 1 is Dr.Basavant Madagatti who has conducted postmortem examination on the dead bod of the deceawd He has opined that the death is due to 95 to 100% burns sustained b5 the deceased. PW.2 is Dr.Mahadevappa Gidnaes who has sent Ex P.4 Certificate to the police In respect of the deceased. PW.3 Dr Chanabasappa Angadt ha stated that the wc used has brought Ii s .ufc t h hospit I at 0 D C - ) k C C ) C ) C a 0 9 ) l C D C O D 0 O D D C ) C r O D ) l C < D C O D C D 0 D C 0 D C ‘ * D C l C D C D C l C ) C 0 O D 0 * 0 - 0 - - i J ( - ) l C - D C - 0 - 0 D C D C 0 D C X D C O D D C l D C C . . D C D C 0 D C - D C 0 . — D C D C ) C r ) l C D C O C a O D 0 0 D C D C . a C < . a 0 r D C D C - i - D C 0 0 ) - D C ) - r 0 D C c — — D C . a . . 0 D C ) C D C D C ) i D ) C 9 C D Q C I ) C 9 0 O D 9 - C - D C D C o D C a 9 l C . . C D D C - D C . D C O D D C C D O D i - D C D C 0 — ) / C D C 9 0 D C H C - — m , H D C — D C 9 . C D ) l C D C D C D C F r D C D _ - D C o D C D C D C . 0 0 ) C Z D C - O D D C i D C D C . . j r D C . . a ) C - C O D C . . D C - D C D C ) 2 z ) / ( 0 D C D C t r ) C D C . 2 ) C O D D C D C * D C D C - 2 D . y ) C c : 9 D ) C D C - - ° ) . a O D ) C D C ) C C C C . - r c D C D C , 0 - h T . . _ Q D C 1 o D C . 2 ) D C ° O D D C O D D C C C ) C 9 a ) l C D C . L C O D — 2 C C C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ L C D C D C - - ) C D C — L C D C 3 Q C I D C ) C ) l ) l C C r C 3 ) C ; 3 ) 9 C r C D C ) ) C C ) l C D C L C 9 - ) C ) ) C C . i c t r ) C r C D C V — ) C 9 ) C 3 r 2 r C D C ) l C — ) C r C ) l C D C i c i c ) ) ) C C C D C 3 ) C — D C ) C D C L C D C ) C ) C — i c r C ) C ) l C ) C L C ) r C D C ) C ) l C y C 3 r C Q 3 ( ) C D C L C D C D C ) ) l C ) C . . . ) C L C D C ) C — ) l C ) C - - r . 9 — . r C ) C . C ) l ) / C C D C — 3 l C c 3 l C ) C 2 r C ) l C . t - L C D C r — C r C D C ) C 3 * - ) C < . : ) C ) C L C D C - * r C 3 3 3 1 D C L C D C r C r C - 2 r C L C i : - 3 V L V - * * - ) 3 ( : V ) C D C ) C C ( ) C D C - h T ( D C ) C D C - C - ) ) V - 3 - i I V D C D C “ ) — 9 . ) C 3 . - . . 3 r C ) C 3 V r C t ( — - D C ) C C ) l C D C 3 ) . r C ) C — . . ) i 9 9 . - ) C C C ) ) l C L C D C D C Q r c ) ) Q f ) 9 9 ° r C ) ) C V D C — V ) C ) C . L C ) ) C L C ) C 3 ( - < r C 2 r C . 3 ) C ) - C ) L C 9 ) C r D C C . . . — 9 — ) C , ) C C C < ) ) C C ) l C D C ) C - . — r C D C . ) C ) C r C C 9 - ) C . . ) ) : s q i C D C — ) l C ) l C ) 1 J - — — D C - L C 6 . c : - . ) 9 ) C — r C r . . . L C ) C 3 9 ) C C ) C : 2 r ) C i - i c i c - ) C L C 9 ) C L I ( 9 ) C i c L C - ) C 3 V ) W C D 3 — ) L C V W 3 V * r ç 9 9 — 3 ) C — ) l C ) l C 3 ) C I ( L I ( ) C ) C ) l C . ( L C r C r V 3 C D C i c ) C — c . 9 • ) C : J ) C < - r C . r r C 9 L C D C r C ) I ( r ) l C , , : ) C r C ) C . 1 9 $ ) o ) ) C r C D C 9 ) C c ) l C 9 i c — r ) C 9 o ) C ) l C r C D C r C ) C L C ) C - — — ) C T C — 2 ) C r - ) N , — r r C r C J c - r C - ) C c ) C 1 “ ) C r C ) C ) C ) C - — 2 ) C ) N ) N C C - - ) N * C r C ) C ) ) C C - . — — ) C r ) C ) C r C D C 1 - - ) l * C - - ) C — — C r C ) C C C i - ) C * c ) i C ) ) ) ) i ) C C C C C C * * 2 ) C r C r C ) C 9 - ) N C C ) N ) N ) i — C z , i - c ) C . — • ) C c r c - r C ) ) C C )r C ) C _ ) C t r r C ) C : ) — - r P i c ) C ) C - 1 ) C C C i r ) C _ ) C r - C r ) C ) ) C C - C . - - 9 C C ) C ) C ) C - ) i C J - - r C D o ) ) C C ø ) C ) C i c - o — — — - ) i e + r ) C — L - j r o i - ) C i c ) I C ) C r C . 9 ) C j ) C ) C ) r N C r C ) C - ) C _ i c o— r C ) C r ) i C r C ) l C r ) l C C ) C - r ) i C C ) C ) C r C r C ‘ ) r C ) C — C ) ) C ) C C . ) C r C - ) ) C C ) i C * ) C ) C i c ) C ) i C ) C 1 C i c i c 9 i c ) C ) l ) C - ) ) ) C C C < C i c . — ) C . . — r C ) C - ) N 0 ) l - ( - ) C ) C ) C r C ) C — ) C ) C C — ) i C 0 - ) C ) C < * ) ) ) ) C C C C ) C a ) C — ) ) C C - 9 r C C ) C i c ) i C C ) l C r C ) i C r C - - 0 r C . - . i - ) ) C C “ ) C - r C r - r C C C 2 ) C r C ) C — ) C i c ) C ) C i c - s - ) ) C C C r C ) i c — ) C i c h T ( r C ) C ) i C ) C — C . ) C i c ) ) C C r C ) i C r — C - . . i c C ) C i - ) L C ) ) C C — i c > — P ) ) C C D C r i c r C r C E ) C — ) C r C . ) C . ) ) C C ) C i c C ) l C ) ) C C + r i c ) ) C ( - ) C ) C — r i - “ ) C i c — r C . r ) - C C i c C ) C ) ’ C ) C - 9 i c ) C r H r C ) C - 9 P c / c ) C ) i C i C . ) i C ) C ) C C . — - ) C ) i C ) C — i - ) C C r r C — r r C C - 9 ) C ) C p i r r ) C C C ) - ) C ) C 1 r ) C C ) C 1 i c ) C C P — Q ( r r C ) C ) ) C V . . i c • . . J C ) C r C ) C C ) C ) C - c r - 9 C C ) C ) C ) ) C C C D ’ r - - ) C r ) C t r r C ) C i c c ) C . , i - ) C r ) C C ) C i c , - 9 . ) C ) C ) C ) C C / c C - 9 r C C ) ) C C • • C ) _ D C D D C t - 2 0 i c D C Q * ED D C D C D C C < D C i c D C D C i c 0 - 0 : < ) r C D C D C — a 2 0 • D C 0 — D C D C D C i c a ) C i c . L O O . . i c D C - D C . a 2 i c D C ) r C D C D C o C < ) D D C ) Di C D C ) C C ) C 2 0 D C ) C = D C ) C i c - D C ) H - D C1 . D C C < D C * r . - ) C D C ) C D C D C i c D C D C D C i i c D C - 0 - r D C . _ 0 D C D C . _ D o C i c ) C 2 0 2 0 r . . 0 - r ’ - i c D C t r . . i c D C D C D C , ) — i c D C ) C < - 2 0 r D C o 2 0 O D C ) p i c ) C o . - i c , — - D C 2 0 D C - - o r ’ - ) C D C ’ ) ) C C ) C 2 0 2 / ( j ( i c ) C D C p 0 i D ‘ t r D C ) C ) C C 2 i c 2 ‘ ( Z ‘ D C D C D C D C ) C 2 ‘ ( D C C D . . ) C Q D C i c i D ’ ) C — ) C ) 1 ( — D C i c D C ) C ) C C < ) C 2 ‘ ( ) C C < D C D C D C 0 D C - — 0 h D C t r . ’ C D C - < D C . . i c ) C + r ’ 0 — . C - r * * - C - r - ’ 0 - Q - i c . 0 ’ ) C D C - - ’ i c D C D C D C D C a 2 0 ’ 0 ‘ - ° ’ 0 ) C C ’ i c ) C ’ i c D C — 2 / ( 0 ’ - C C h ’ C ’ 0 D C i c D C ) C ’ 0 - 0 ’ i c D D C C ) C ) C — — ) C ) C C < 2 / ( C D — ’ p i c 0 - r . D C D C ) C 0 - ’ i c D C C < ) C C i c - ’ - ) C D C D C D C ) C 2 ‘ ( . . - - 0 2 0 D C D C i D C ) ) C D C 2 ‘ ( ) C ’ i c D C i c o < ) r C ‘ — ) C - Q 1 r C . . ) C d ) C P i c ) r C o , ’ . C D C ) C i D 0 , ) . p C 0 i c r ’ i c ) C ’ — r f P c - — C ( D C D C - ) C f r ) C i c D C D C ) 1 ( , . - . . ) C D C = ) C . . i c i 0D ) C D • “ 0 o 0 a - — . . ) C i c C D . D1C C D ) C ) C D0P C C ) i c ) 0 ) C c C < D C i c . . i c D C i c )PC C D 0 c D C ’ - i f r 1 D C ) C C r ) C ’ 0 r ‘ 1 ‘ ) C g D C . ) C i c ) C . D C ’ - ) 0 C 0 - . . i c D C . . 0 D D C D C ) C ) r C D C C C : . D C : c . 2 1 ( 1 ‘ D C 2 D C i - D C -c i . . i c D C i c 2 0 D C E S D = C 1 o — o D C . . C D D C D C D C ) C ) r C D C . . P — i c i i ; ; D C o . . i c D C ) r C D C 11 discrepancies. a doubt arises as to whether the version stated in the complaint is true or not and the benefit of such doubt should go to the accused, Further, the State has not filed any appeal against the order of acquittal passed against appellant under Section 304B of IPC or for offences under the Dowry Prohibition Act.

11. 1 have gone through the judgment of the learned Sessions Judge. I find that the reasoning given by the learned Sessions Judge for convicting the appellant for the offence under Section 498A IPC are the same reasons on which the learned Sessions Judge has acquitted him for the offence under Section 304B IPC. The evidence tendered for offence under Section 304B IPC cannot be separated from the one for offence under Section 498A IPC.

12. Under the circumstances, the appellant is entitled for an order of acquittal giving him the benufit of doubt. In the result, this appeal is alloed. The order of conviction and sentence recorded against the appellant is hereh set iside and the ippellant is acquittd of th offence leic lcd against I ‘w T’ b ‘ 1 ‘vv e e I I P t a - 12 - discharged and the fine amount, if deposited shall be refunded to him. Nvj/gab Sd! 3UDGE I