Puthuppallil Shaji alias S/O Mathew v. State of Kerala

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.K.MOHANAN FRIDAY, THE 5TH DECEMBER, 2008 / 14TH AGRAHAYANA, 1930 **CRL.A.No. 1466 of 2006(C)** (SC.56/1999 of ADDL. SESSIONS COURT (ADHOC), THALASSERY) .................... APPELLANT/ACCUSED: --------------------------- PUTHUPPALLIL SHAJI ALIAS S/O. MATHEW, AGED 36 YEARS, AGRICULTURIST, RESIDING AT THOTTAMKAVALA, PAYAM AMSOM, EDOOR, THALASSERY TALUK, KANNUR DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.R.SURENDRAN RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT: ------------------------------------- STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA ERNAKULAM, KOCHI-31. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SMT.K.L.LAKSHMI RANI. THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 10/11/2008, ALONG WITH CRA NO. 2082 OF 2006, THE COURT ON 05/12/2008 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ## **V.K.MOHANAN, J.** ## **--------------------------------------------Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006 --------------------------------------------Dated this the 5[th] day of December, 2008** ## **J U D G M E N T** Crl.A.No.1466 of 2006 is filed by the sole accused in Sessions Case No.56 of 1999 on the file of the Additional Sessions Court, Adhoc-I (Fast Track Court-I), Thalassery challenging the conviction and sentence imposed against him by the said court as per its judgment dated 12.7.2006 under Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code (for short ' the I.P.C.'). Crl.A.No.2082 of 2006 is an appeal preferred by the appellants herein who are prosecution witness Nos.1,6,7 and 8 in S.C.No.56 of 1999 on the file of the Additional Sessions Court Adhoc-I (Fast Track Court-I), Thalassery challenging the complaint filed against them under Section 195 read with Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (for short ' the Cr.P.C'). on the allegation that they gave false evidence suppressing material facts in the above sessions case and thereby committed the offence punishable under Section 193 I.P.C. 2. As Crl.A.No.2082 of 2006 is originated against the complaint filed at the instance of the Additional Sessions Judge, Adhoc-I, Thalassery connected with the judgment in S.C.No.56 of 1999 which is under challenge in Cr.A.No.1466 of 2006 at the ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-2-:** instance of the accused and as both the appeals are interconnected, the same were heard together and being disposed of by this common judgment. 3. For convenience, first of all I shall deal with Crl.A.No.1466 of 2006. 4. As pointed out earlier, this appeal is preferred by the accused challenging his conviction and sentence imposed by the court of Additional Sessions Judge (Adhoc-I), Fast Track Court-I, Thalassery in S.C.No.56/1999.The allegation of prosecution is that the accused married the deceased Laly on 6.6.1994 and while they were living as man and wife in her matrimonial house, the accused tortured her mentally and physically demanding more dowry and due to the continuous intolerable torture, the said Laly committed suicide at the instance of the accused on 30.12.1995 at about 7 a.m. by consuming poison and thus, according to the prosecution, the accused has committed the offence punishable under Section 304B I.P.C. Initially, Crime No.357 of 1995 was registered in the Iritty Police Station under the caption of 'unnatural death' on the basis of the statement given by CW-1 and subsequently, investigation was conducted by CWs.34 and 35 and during the course of investigation, the ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-3-:** section was altered to Section 304 B I.P.C., on the basis of the report filed by CW34. On completing investigation, CW35 laid the charge sheet before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Mattannur where C.P.No.74 of 1998 was instituted and the learned Magistrate by his order dated 22.10.1998 in the above committal proceedings committed the case to the Sessions Court from where the case was made over to the trial court for disposal. On appearance of the accused, after hearing the prosecution as well as the defence, a formal charge under Section 304B I.P.C. was framed which was read over and explained to the accused and he pleaded not guilty which resulted in further trial during which Pws.1 to 22 were examined and Exts.P1 to P4 were marked on the side of the prosecution. Material objects such as Mos.1 to 4 were identified and marked during the trial. On completing the prosecution evidence, the accused was questioned under Section 313 of Cr.P.C. and when the incriminating circumstances, which brought out during the prosecution evidence, put to him, he denied the same. During the defence evidence, the accused himself was examined as DW1 and besides him, Dws.2 to 4 were examined and Exts.D1 to D5 were marked as defence exhibits. On the basis of the rival ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-4-:** contentions and pleadings, the trial court formulated two issues for its consideration and finally found that the accused/appellant was guilty under Section 304B I.P.C. and accordingly, he was sentenced to undergo imprisonment for seven years and set off was allowed. It is the above conviction and sentence challenged in this appeal. 5. I have heard Mr.R.Surendran, learned counsel appearing for the appellant and also Smt.K.L.Lakshmi Rani, the learned Public Prosecutor. 6. Originally, Ext.P1(a) F.I.R in Crime No.357 of 1995 of Iritty Police Station was registered under the caption 'unnatural death' on the basis of Ext.P1 statement given by PW-1 to PW13, the A.S.I. of the Iritty Police Station. PW1 stated before the A.S.I. that he went to the Police Station to lodge the information regarding the suicide committed by Laly, W/o.Shaji Mathew. According to the First Information Statement, on 29.12.1995 evening, the sister of the accused and her husband came in the house of the accused as guests and on that day, along with them, the deceased Laly had gone for a cinema and as the deceased went for cinema, without obtaining permission from the accused, **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-5-:** there was a quarrel between the deceased and the accused and at about 7 a.m. on the next day, i.e. on 30.12.1995, Laly committed suicide by consuming poisonous pesticide which was kept for treatment of the plantain and the accused removed her to the hospital in a lorry driven by one Jose firstly to Eduthala and therefrom, in a jeep bearing Registration No.KL13 B 2113 to the Government Hospital, Iritty. Immediately thereafter, the said Laly was taken to the Kannur Government Hospital and from there to A.K.G. Hospital and from the A.K.G.Hospital to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. According to PW1, as per the F.I.statement, the marriage between the accused and the deceased had taken place just before one and a half years and they were quarrelling frequently. According to him, the accused questioned and quarrelled with her for going cinema without his permission. When PW-1 was examined, he admitted the signature in Ext.P1 F.I.statement and stated that at 2 p.m. on a day in December 1995, he was told by his wife that Laly was admitted in A.K.G.Hospital, Kannur and when he was about to go, he got information that Laly was taken to Medical college Hospital, Kozhikode and accordingly, he reached there and came to know that Laly expired and he returned to his home on the ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-6-:** same day and the next day morning at 8 a.m. on 31.12.1995, he went to the Police Station, and lodged Ext.P1 statement. As he disowned 161 statement with respect to the reason for the death of the said Laly, he was declared as hostile. 7. Other main witnesses examined are PWs.2,3 and 5 who are the brothers of the deceased. Besides the brothers, sister of the deceased was also examined as PW4 and her sisterin-law was examined as DW3. When Pws.2 to 5 were examined, they deposed in favour of the prosecution saying that the deceased told them that the accused was harassing her for not giving the balance amount of dowry. The other three witnesses namely, Pws.6,7 and 8 were turned hostile to the prosecution. PW6 is the brother of the father of the accused and PW7 is the wife of PW6 and PW8 is their daughter. According to the court below, they turned hostile deposing that they did not know anything about the alleged torture of the deceased Laly by the accused. In this case, the statements of Pws.6 to 8 were recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Kuthuparamba who was examined as PW10 in this case. During their examination in the present case, they admitted the statement given before PW10, **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-7-:** but according to them, they gave such statement due to the compulsion and threat from the part of the Police. PW-9 is the witness to Ext.P16 inquest report. Mos.1 to 4 are the dresses of the deceased. When PW10 was examined, he had stated that he had complied with all formalities and ensured that the witnesses were giving statement voluntarily and according to their free will. Ext.P35 is the certificate issued by PW11 Assistant Surgeon of Kannur District Hospital who examined the deceased at about 10.30 p.m. on 30.12.1995. The autopsy on the body of the deceased was conducted by PW12 and he issued Ext.P36 post mortem certificate. PW13 who registered the F.I.R. also visited the place of occurrence and prepared the scene mahazar which is marked as Ext.P37. PW14 is a witness to the seizure mahazar Ext.P11, by which the letters sent by the deceased were seized. Exts.P2,P4,P5, and P7 to P10 were letters seized by the Police. Ext.P15 is the seizure mahazar prepared for the seizure of wedding photos of the accused as well as the deceased. There are certain other witnesses and documents as prosecution exhibits to prove the marriage between the accused and the deceased which are not relevant, according to me, for the disposal of this appeal since the marriage is not disputed by the ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-8-:** accused. PW19 is the husband of the elder sister of the deceased who signed Ext.P3 as the witness. PW20 is the Tahsildar of the Thalassery Taluk who prepared Ext.P16 inquest report. PW21 is the Dy.S.P., Kannur who conducted the investigation and PW22 is the successor of PW21, who completed the investigation and laid the charge. There are certain other documents produced by the prosecution which, according to me, assume much importance and relevance in the factual background of the case and therefore, I shall refer those documents. As indicated earlier, certain letters written and sent by the deceased to her brothers were seized by the Police. The details are as follows:- Ext.P2 is a letter written by the deceased to PW2 and Ext.P3 is the mahazar for the seizure of the said letter. Ext.P4 is another letter sent by the deceased to PW3 and Ext.P5 is the letter sent to his wife by the deceased. Those two letters are seized as per Ext.P6 mahazar. Exts.P7 to P10 are the letters sent by Laly to PW4 and Ext.P11 is the mahazar for seizure of those letters. Exts.P17 to P34 are the contradictions in the statement given by Pws.6 to 8 with respect to the 164 statement recorded by PW10 and the same are proved through him. ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-9-:** Ext.P39 is the report submitted by PW21 for altering the section. Exts.P40 to 43 is the contradictions in the statement of Pws.1,7,9 and 10. 8. The defence took a stand that the deceased Laly committed suicide because of her despondency as the accused was incapable to give birth to a child and also the accused adduced evidence to show her temperament. DW1 is the accused himself who mounted to the box and gave evidence to that effect. DW2 is the Assistant Surgeon of the Government Hospital, Thalassery who issued Ext.D2, the result of the examination of the serum of the accused. DW3 is the wife of the brother of the deceased who was examined to prove the letter sent by herself to the accused which is marked as Ext.D4. DW4 is one of the friends of the deceased Laly and Ext.D5 is the letter sent by her to the deceased. . Exts.D1 and D3 are the pregnancy test results of the deceased. 9. After analysing the above evidence and the facts and circumstances involved in the case, the trial court was of the opinion that the cardinal point to be looked into is regarding the conduct of the accused and also of the opinion that in the absence of evidence of eye witnesses in a case like this, the ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-10-:** court has to rely on the circumstances and other witnesses. The trial court considered the legal question involved in the case in the following manner as to “whether the deceased Laly was subjected to cruelty or harassment by the accused for or in connection with any demand for dowry and if it is shown that the accused had harassed the deceased demanding dowry before her death, a presumption can be drawn under Section 113B of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (for short 'the Act') that the accused caused the dowry death which comes under Section 304 B of the I.P.C.”. On the basis of the available evidence and materials, according to the trial court, the harassment meted out against the deceased was proved and therefore, it was for the accused to show that the death was not due to the harassment or the harassment was not for or in connection with the demand for dowry. Finally, the court found that in the present case, from the evidence of Pws.2 to 5 and the letters sent by the deceased Laly, it is obvious that she was tortured and harassed by the accused demanding dowry which led to the death. Thus, it was accordingly found that the accused ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-11-:** has committed the offence punishable under Section 304B of I.P.C. 10. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that the prosecution has miserably failed to show that the death was due to the harassment connected with demand for dowry. According to the learned counsel, the marriage between the deceased and the accused was settled or has taken place not on the basis of any dowry demanded or fixed. According to the learned counsel, the fixation of Rs.2 lakhs, the payment of one and a half lakhs rupees as cash and ornaments and offer to pay the remaining Rs.50,000/- will not come within the purview of dowry. On the other hand, it can be treated only as the share of the deceased which she is entitled to get from the family property. It is also pointed out by the learned counsel that absolutely there is no evidence to show any demand raised by the accused for the dowry either the full amount or balance towards the dowry and also there is no iota of evidence to show that the deceased Laly was subjected to harassment demanding either for the balance dowry amount or for more dowry amount. Going by the evidence of prosecution, viz., the letters written by the deceased itself, according to the learned counsel, it can be seen that her only **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-12-:** agony is with respect to the habitual consumption of liquor by the accused. Learned counsel also pointed out that even going by the prosecution case itself, the dispute between the accused and the deceased has been settled at the intervention of the brothers on 24.12.2005 through dialogue with the accused and thus after settling the issue, both the deceased and accused were taken to the house of the accused by Sherli. It is thereafter, the deceased committed suicide on 30.12.1995. Therefore, according to the learned counsel, absolutely there is no evidence to show that soon before the death of Laly, she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by the accused in connection with any demand for dowry. Thus, according to the learned counsel, in the absence of any concrete evidence or reliable materials, to show that Laly has committed suicide because, before such death, she was subjected to cruelty or harassment in connection with any demand for dowry, no statutory presumption under Section 113B of the Act is available in favour of the prosecution and against the accused. Thus, according to the learned counsel, even if it is admitted as proved that the deceased was subjected to any harassment or cruelty, the offence will not come under Section 304B of I.P.C. and without conceding, the learned counsel ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-13-:** submits that at the most, what was attracted is only under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code. Therefore, according to the learned counsel, the conviction and the consequent sentence under Section 304B of I.P.C. is liable to be set aside. 11. Per contra, Smt.Lakshmy Rani, the learned Public Prosecutor submits that the evidence let in by the prosecution categorically proved that there was a settlement regarding the dowry amount connected with the marriage between the accused and the deceased and out of the two lakhs rupees so settled, only one and a half lakhs of rupees was given to the accused by way of cash and ornaments and the accused was continuously harassing the deceased demanding for the balance dowry amount of Rs.50,000/-. It is also pointed out by the learned Public Prosecutor that demanding for the balance amount towards the dowry and more money from the house of the deceased, the accused was frequently quarrelling with the deceased after consuming liquor and as a result of such dispute and quarrel, on several occasions, she had to leave her matrimonial house, but she was again sent back with the company of the accused and the accused continued his cruel behavior to the deceased demanding more money including the **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-14-:** balance dowry amount. According to the Prosecutor, the prosecution has tried to adduce evidence by examining Pws.6,7 and 8, the persons who are connected with and more concerned with the matrimonial home of the deceased and as a precaution, their statements were recorded under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C. and the evidence thus adduced by the prosecution would clearly show the harassment meted out against the deceased by the accused. According to her, besides the oral evidence, the prosecution has also produced certain contemporaneous documents namely, the letters written by the deceased addressing her brothers pointing out the harassment and cruel behavior of the accused shown to her and threatening connected with the demand for dowry. The learned Public Prosecutor further submits that by adducing the evidences, both oral and documentary, the prosecution has succeeded in establishing the harassment meted out by the accused against the deceased connected with the demand for dowry and therefore, in view of Section 113B of the Act, a statutory presumption can be drawn that the death of Laly was due to the dowry demand from the part of the accused. It is also the case of the Public Prosecutor that as the prosecution has succeeded in establishing the harassment ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-15-:** from the part of the accused, it is for the accused to show and establish that the death is not a dowry death, but for some other reason, and in the present case, though such attempt was made, it was failed miserably. Hence, according to the Prosecutor, the trial court had correctly found that the accused was guilty of the offence under Section 304B of the I.P.C. and a reasonable punishment was imposed and therefore, there is no illegality so as to interfere with such judgment by this Court by exercising the appellate jurisdiction. 12. I have carefully considered the contentions advanced by learned counsel for the appellant in Crl.A.No.1466 of 2006 as well as the learned Public Prosecutor and also perused the materials and evidence on record. 13. In the present case, the marriage between the accused and the deceased is admitted and it is also beyond doubt that the deceased committed suicide within seven years from the date of their marriage. Section 304B of I.P.C. deals with dowry death which runs as follows:- “ **304B. Dowry death** .-- (1) Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-16-:** 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 extend to imprisonment for life.” In the light of the facts which are beyond dispute as mentioned above, what is to be established by the prosecution is that soon before the death of Laly, she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by the accused in connection with any demand for dowry. 14. In this juncture, it is also relevant to examine the amendment brought in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 by incorporating with Section 113B. “ -- **113B. Presumption as to dowry death.** When the question is whether a person has committed the dowry death of a woman and it **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-17-:** is shown that soon before her death such woman has 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 304B, of the Indian Penal Code, (45 of 1860)” By incorporating such a provision, it is the obligation of the court to draw a presumption against a person under Section 113B of the Act that such person had caused the dowry death provided if it is shown that soon before the death of a woman, such woman has been subjected by such person to cruelty or harassment for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry. So a conjoint reading of Section 304B of the I.P.C. and Section 113B of the Act would show in the present case, the prosecution has to show and establish that the accused had subjected the deceased Laly to cruelty or harassment soon before her death for or in connection with any demand for dowry. 15. The above burden of the prosecution is tried to discharge through the oral evidence of Pws.2 to 8. Besides the oral evidence of the above witnesses, the prosecution has also ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-18-:** relied upon certain documents to prove its case. 16. The learned counsel on the basis of the decision of the supreme Court in **Appasaheb** v. **State of Maharashtra** (2007 (4) KLT 463)(SC) submits that the main demand for money on account of financial stringency or for meeting urgent domestic expenses will not come within the purview of dowry. According to the learned counsel, the prosecution has not established that there was a demand for dowry and the same was settled as a condition precedent for solemnization of the marriage. However, according to the learned counsel, the documents produced in this case are not sufficient to show that there was a dowry demand and a settlement. From the prosecution evidence, especially PW2 has stated that the dowry was fixed as two lakhs rupees and a sum of Rs.1,50,000/- was given to the father of the accused from the date of betrothal and the specific agreement was that remaining Rs.50,000/- will be paid after two years. It is also stated that about 30 sovereign ornaments were given to Laly and the ornaments were bought from the dowry amount of one and a half lakhs rupees. PW2 also deposed that he received a letter dated 1.12.1995 written by deceased Laly mentioning about the cruelty faced by Laly from the deceased in respect of the ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-19-:** demand of the balance amount of Rs.50,000/- towards dowry. Regarding the dowry, Pws.3 and 4 were also deposed in terms of PW2. In the light of the above facts, the contention raised by the learned counsel for the appellant with respect to the dowry is not sustainable. 17. The next question to be considered is whether the deceased was subjected to cruelty or harassment by the accused in connection with any demand for dowry. In order to prove the above aspect, the prosecution has very much relied upon the depositions of Pws.2 to 5 and Pws.6 to 8. In the chief examination, PW2 has stated that the sisters of the deceased Laly gave 5 sovereign ornaments to the deceased and the accused was frequently demanding the ornaments of Laly. It was also deposed that whole money which was given to Laly, as and when she came to the parental house, was also taken by the accused. PW2 says that the deceased told him that all this was used in an extravagant way. PW2 has also stated that parents of the accused directed Laly not to give ornaments and money to the accused. He had stated that the accused used to assault the deceased and one day, the accused had driven out Laly from his house asking her to bring money. It was also stated that the ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-20-:** father of the accused sent telegram to the brother of PW2, Josep asking him to reach there and the said telegram was received when Laly reached the house of her elder sister. Thus, all of them were taken Laly to the house of the accused and on the way, they saw Shaji, the accused along with his friends and the accused was in a drunken stage. Along with Shaji, all of them reached in the house of the accused and they met the parents of the accused and all of them advised Shaji and as per the advice given by the father and mother of the accused, both Laly and Shaji came to their tharavadu house. Thus about one week, they stayed in the tharavadu house and thereafter on 1.12.1995, he received a letter from Laly, which is marked as Ext.P2. In that letter, the deceased Laly wrote, according to PW2, that the accused assaulted deceased Laly asking her to obtain the balance Rs.50,000/- and behaved without any love and therefore, Laly had written asking as to what she should do. He had also stated that Cws.3 and 4 have also received similar letters and on the basis of the same, the younger brother Biju was sent to the house of the accused for bringing the accused and deceased., but Shaji did not turn up and Biju brought deceased Laly. PW2 further stated that on 20.12.1995, Shaji along with two friends **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-21-:** came in their house after consuming liquor in a vehicle to take Laly back. According to PW2, as she was not in good condition, the friends returned and PW2 invited both the accused and Laly to his house on 22.12.1995 and the matters were discussed in the presence of Mathai, brother of PW2 and Sebastian and Baby, brother-in-laws. PW2 says that they advised Shaji to live decently, properly and in good behaviour. It is also stated by PW2 that they had assured Shaji to pay the remaining Rs.50,000/- before 30[th] March and thus, on 23.12.1995, both Laly and Shaji, accused went back to the tharavadu in good relation. It was also stated that the sister of the accused viz., Sherly was also staying in the tharavadu of PW2 for her study. Thus, according to PW2, on 24.12.1995, the deceased Laly and accused Shaji went to his house along with Sherly. It is, thereafter, he received the information regarding the incident. During the cross-examination, PW2 says that deceased Laly used to come to tharavadu house along with the accused and reside there. The accused was not taking liquor when he came to the house of PW2 and he was not having any mis-behavior. He had stated that the accused is a volley ball player. PW2 had admitted that he himself and his wife sent letters to the deceased ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-22-:** and when deceased Laly came in the house, she had talked about the harassment. It was also stated that she had informed him through letters also. 18. PW3 had specifically stated that the father of the accused requested him with weeping eyes to advise the accused to become a good man. He had also stated that he too advised the accused. In the chief-examination itself, PW3 stated that whenever he advised him, he used to say that he was ruined by his friends and the same would not be repeated. According to PW3, the accused and the deceased resided together harmoniously for five to six months. PW3 stated that often, the accused demanded the ornaments and money from Laly for the purpose of consumption of liquor and if the same was not given, he used to assault her. Through letters also, the same was informed to him. PW3 stated in terms of PW2 regarding the sending of telegram by father and taking back of deceased Laly to the house of the accused. PW3 has also stated that the ring which was given by deceased Laly to Shaji was also sold for taking toddy. Ext.P4 letter was marked through PW3. During the cross-examination, when a question was put to PW3 that whether Laly was in agony because, the accused used to keep away from **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-23-:** the house days together when gone for playing volley ball. It was answered that her agony was in taking liquor and assaulting her on returning after volley ball play. PW4 is the sister of deceased Laly. She stated that for five to six months, after the marriage there was no problem and thereafter, the deceased faced several difficulties. She stated that for the remaining dowry and ornaments, she was subjected to harassment. PW4 says that Laly told her that the accused used to demand her ornaments and if the same was not given, he would assault her and thus, when once Laly came, she showed the marks of assault. Exts.P7 to P10 were marked through PW4. PW4 also stated that she was not aware whether accused was going for volley ball play. She had categorically stated that the deceased Laly told her that when the accused had gone along with the friends, he will come back only after three or four days. 19. Thus, going by the oral testimonies of Pws.2 to 4, it appears that they gave evidence regarding the harassment based upon what they had heard from the deceased and also written to them by the deceased. From Ext.P2 letter written to PW2 which is dated 1.12.95, it is clear that the accused was having quarrel with her demanding ornaments and the parents of ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-24-:** accused advised her not to give ornaments without their knowledge. In Ext.P2 , it is written as follows:- “ഷ�ജ� എന�� എനന�ട� വഴക�ണ�.സ�ര�� ക��ട�ക�ന പറഞ�. അച�ചന�� അമയ�� ' �' � പറഞ� ഞങളറ�യ�ക% ക��ട�കര�% എന . ഞ�കനന�ണ� ക(ന)ണ% �.ഇന� ആക�യ�ള%� ��റച�സ�ര�മ�ണ�. എന�� ഷ�ജ� പണ� ആവശ1ക2ട��. എന�� എകന സ�ര�� ന(�ദ�ച� ക��ണ� പ4ഡ�2�ക ��യ�ണ�. ഈ വ4ട�ക8 ഒര�വശ1ത�ന �� അ ല. � ഷ�ജ�ക� ധ�രതട�ക�ന�ണ . സ�ര�� ക��ട�ത�കലങ�ല ഷ�ജ�കയ ഇന� ��ണ�ല എന�ണ� പറയ �ന%�. എവ�കടകയങ�8�� നപ�യ� ��ടന� ��ട� വ�ട� വര��. ന�ങള പറയ�ന%� എന �� ഞ�ന ന�ളക�ന %)�റ�ണ�. ഒര� ദ�വസകമങ�8 �� സനന�ഷനത�ട���ട� ജ4വ�ച�ല മ%�. സ�ര�� ക��ട�ക�കമന� വച�ല എത% ദ�വസനതക� ��ണ��. അ%� �ഴ�ഞ�ല പ�കനയ�� ആവശ1ക2ട�ല ഞ�കനന� ക() ��. എന�കറ�യ�ല � �ഞ�കഞ ഞ�കനന� ക()��. പണനത�ട�� സ�ര�നത�ട �മ�ള ആരത�യല�ക% സ�നനഹ� എന�ണ� എന� ഷ�ജ�കറ�യ�ല. എല�വര�കടയ�� മ �നപ�ല നന�യ� അഭ�നയ�ച� ��ണ�ക��. ഞ�കനന�ണ� ക(ന)ണ% �. ഒന�� എന�കറ�യ�ല. ആര�� വന�കലങ�8�� വലന2�ഴ�� ഒര� �കതങ�8�� എഴ�%�നല.” (emphasis supplied) Ext.P4 is another letter dated 1.12.1995 addressed to PW3. In the said letter, it is written as follows:- ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** **:-25-:** “ഷ�ജ� ഇന2�ള പ�%�യ ആയ�ധ� എട�ത�ര�ക��യ�ണ� ആവശ1ക2ട �ന സ�ര�� ക��ട�കണ�. അകലങ�ല എനന�ട� ഇവ�ടന� കപ�യ�കക�ള�ന പറഞ�. എന�� എനന�ട� വഴക�ണ�. ന(�ദ�ക�നപണവ�� സ�ര�വ �� ക��ട�ക�ഞ�ട�. അച�ചന�� അമയ�� പറഞ�, ' �' � ഒന�� ഞങളറ�യ�ക% ക��ട�കര�% എന . ആവശ1കമന�ണ� എന� ന(�ദ�ക�നC�ള ' അ%� ന�ങള�ര�� അറ�യണ എകD ��കട ജ4വ�കണകമങ�ല ഞ�ന പറയ�ന%� %രണ�' എന�ണ�പറച�ല . �ള� ��ട�ച� വണ�യ�� ��ട� ��ട���നര�കട�ത� നടക�ന�ണ� അല�ക% ഇവ�ടകത ആര �കടയ�� ആവശ1ത�നല. ��കറ ദ�വസമ�യ� എനന�ട� പറയ�ന % �ടങ�യ�ട�. അഥവ� ക��ട�ക�കമന� വച�ല %കനയ�� അ%� %4രന��ഴ�യ�നC�ള അ%�ല ��ട�%ല ആവശ1ക2ട��. ഷ�ജ�ക� പണനത�ട�ള ആരത�യ�ണ�. സ�നനഹ� എന�കണന� അറ�യ�ല. അവ�കടകയല�� വര�നC�ള നലവന���ന നന�ക��. എല�� അഭ�നയമ�ണ�. എന�കറ�യ�ല. ഇങകന നപ�യ�ല എങകന ജ4വ�ക�കമന�. ഒര� തപ%4കയ�മ�ല. ഒര� പണ�യ�� എട�ക�ന �ഴ�യ�ല. എന�� ��ട�ക�ന പപസ � . ക��ട�ക��യ�കണങ�ല എല�വകരയ�� ��ര1മ�ണ ��ട� �ഴ�ഞ�ല പ�കന ആകരയ�� �ണ� ��ട�. (�8ന2�ള ഞ�നന�രക�� സ�ര�ത�ന�നവണ�യനല വഴക�. അ%� ക��ട �ക�കമന�. എന�8�� അടങ�കലങ�ല പ�കന എന� ക()�ന�ണ�.” (emphasis supplied) Ext.P5 is the letter addressed to the wife of PW3. That letter is dated 22.11.1995. The major portion of the letter deals with certain matters which are not relevant in this case. The only sentence, written in this letter referring to the accused is that ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-26-:** “Shaji(accused) is just going on with volley ball play”. Ext.P7 is the letter dated 14.11.1995 addressed to PW4, in which she had written that “Shaji/accused was thus going on volley ball play and drinking” and the same is for the reason that he had not loved to anybody. Whenever somebody comes, he acts as a good man. She had also written that she was not going to ask anything to him and it was her fate. In Ext.P8 letter dated 5.12.1995 also, she addressed to PW4. In the letter, it is written as follows:- “ � ഷ�ജ�യ�കണങ�ല ഇനക8 നപ�യ%�ണ . ഇന2�ഴ�� വന�ല. രണ� മ�ന� ദ�വസ� മ�നപ� എനന�ട� വഴക�യ�ര�ന�. ആവശ1ക2ട�ന സ�ര�� ക��ട�ക�ഞ�ട�. ക��ട�ത�കലങ�ല എനന�ട� ഇവ�കട ന�ന� നപ���ന പറഞ�. ഞ�ന4ക�ര1� അച�ചനന�ട�� അമനയ�ട �� പറഞ �. അവര പറഞ� ആവശ1കമന�ണ� എനറ�ഞ�ട� എല�വര�മറ�ഞ�ട�ക��ട�കണകമങ�ല � ക��ട�ക�കമന . അങകന പറഞ�കട�ന �� സമ%�ച�ല. ധ�രതട�ച� �ളയ�ന�ണ� എല��. അമ പറഞ� ന�കD ആങളമ�ര�� ��ട� അറ�ഞ�ട� � ക��ട�കണകമങ�ല ക��ട �നത� എന . ഞ�ന അ%ന�സര�ച� �കതഴ�%�. അ%� �ഴ�ഞന2�ള പറയ��യ�ണ�. 'ന4 %ര�നമ� എനറ�യ�ന പറഞ%�ണ�എന�.' എന2�ഴ�� എനന�ട� പറയ�� ന4 സ�ര��' %ന�കലങ�ലഎകന ഇന� ��ണ�ല' എന�. ഏക%ല�� ര4%�യ�ല ആണ� എകന പ4ഡ�2�ക�നക%നന�. എന�കറ�യ�ല ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-27-:** ഞ�കനന�ക()�കമന�. എന� ക()�ന�ണ� എന�ക�വ��. ഞ�ന ആര �മ�ല�തവള�യ� നപ�യ�കല. ആര�� ��ണ�ക% ��കറ �രയ��. അ%�നല�ക% എന�കകന� ക()�ന�വ��. ന(ച� � ഇക%�ന�� നവകറ ആനര�ട�� പറയര�% . അവ�കട എല�� വര �നC�ള നലവന�യ� അഭ�നയ�ച� ��ണ�ക��. നന���� എന�ളള തപ%4കയ�ല ഓനര� ദ�വസവ �� %ളള� ന4ക �ന�. എകD വ�ഷമങള മനസ�8�ക�ന ആര �മ�ല. ന(ച�കയങ�8�� ഒര�ശ��സത�ന� വലന2�ഴ�� ഒര� �കതങ�8�� അയകണ �. പട�ണ�യ�കണങ�8 �� ഒര�റ�സമ�ധ�ന� ��ട�യ�ല മ%�യ�യ�ര �ന�. ഇക%�ന�മ�ല�ക% ഞ�ന�ങകന ന4റ�കഴ�യ �ന�. ന(ച� വ�ഷമ�കര�%�. എകD ��കറ വ�ഷമങള എഴ�%�കയന� മ�ത%�.” (emphasis supplied) Ext.P9 is another letter dated 19.1.1995 written to PW4 by the deceased. In this letter it is written as follows:- “ഷ�ജ� അങകന പന��ള�യ�മ�യ�കയ�ക നടക�ന�. xxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx പ�കനയ�� �ഴ�ഞ ഞ�യറ�ഴ�(യ�� ��ട�ച�ട� � � � നനര� കവള�ത 4 മണ�യ�യന2�ള ആണ വന% . എത% പറഞ�8 �� ആകരയ�� നപട�യ�ല. ഇന2�ള ഇന� ��ട�ക�ല എന� പറഞ�നടക�ന�. ഇന� എന�ണ� എനറ�യ�ല ന�ട� %4രക�ന%�. ന(ച� ഇക%�ന�� ആനര�ട�� പറയര�%�. “ (emphasis supplied) Ext.P10 is also a letter addressed to PW4, in which the date is not clear. But from the seal of the Post Office, it appears to be ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-28-:** between 5.1.1995 and 10.1.1995. In this letter, it is written as follows:- “ഇനക8 പവ��നനര� ഷ�ജ� നപ�യ%�ണ� ഇ%� വകരയ�� വന�ട�ല. ആദ1� പപസ ക��ട�ക�ന പറഞ� വഴക� ��ട�. ഇല� എന�പറഞന2�ള നമ�%�ര� ക��ട�ക�ന പറഞ� ഭയങര വഴക�യ�ര�ന� . xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx ന(�ദ�ക�ന പപസ എട�ത� ക��ട�ത�കലങ�ല � ” അനനര� വഴക�ണ . (emphasis supplied) Going by the depositions of Pws.2 to 4 and the letters written by the deceased i.e., Exts.P2,P4,P5 and P7 to P10, a prudent man can easily realize that the deceased was very much concerned and in agony with the bad and indecent character of the accused in taking liquor and his extravagant character in spending money for the same with his friends. It is also crystal clear from her own words of the deceased that the deceased was put in trouble connected with the demand for money or ornaments for taking liquor. After perusal of the above letters, it can be seen that in none of the above letters, the deceased had written or mentioned about the demand of dowry amount or ornaments towards the same. It is also clear from the deposition of Pws.2 to 5 that the main grievance of the deceased was with respect to the above ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-29-:** mentioned character of the accused and that is why these witnesses advised the accused to lead a normal and decent life after deviating from the habit of taking liquor. The learned counsel pointed out that when PW13 prepared Ext.P37 scene mahazar, he had seized about 31 inland letters and 2 post cards which were in the address of the deceased written by the various persons including the brother of the deceased. But the prosecution did not produce and mark those letters. I have gone through said letters and none of those letters contain anything about the demand of balance dowry amount from the part of the accused and the suggestions or remedy suggested by the senders of those letters. In view of the above facts and circumstances, the statement made by the witnesses during their examination as the prosecution witnesses with respect to the demand of Rs.50,000/- as the balance dowry amount can be treated as only an interested and exaggerated version made by them. 20. Another set of evidence proposed by the prosecution to prove the case against the accused is the oral evidence of Pws.1 and 6 to 8. PW1 is the person who launched Ext.P1 information to PW13 A.S.I., Iritty Police Station, based upon **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-30-:** which Ext.P1(a) F.I.R. was registered in the Police Station. When he was examined, he was declared as hostile since he disowned a portion of the statement in Ext.P1 and in the statement given to the Investigating Officer. Going by Ext.P1, it can be seen that there is no valuable material attributed against the accused to canvass a conviction under Section 304B of I.P.C. Ext.P40 is the contradiction marked through PW1. The other three witnesses namely, Pws.6,7 and 8 were cited to prove the prosecution case especially, with respect to the demand of fixation of dowry, the alleged persistent demand from the part of the accused for the unpaid portion of the dowry and also the harassment meted out by him against the deceased on the preceding days of the incident. Besides recording the statement of those witnesses under Section 161 of Cr.P.C., their statements were got recorded under Section 164 of Cr.P.C. by PW10, the then Judicial First Class Magistrate, Kuthuparamba. But when these witnesses were examined during the trial, they turned hostile. The contradictions (Exts.P17 to P34) of the witnesses namely, PWs.6 to 8 were marked as contradiction with respect to their respective statement under Section 164 to the Police. When PW6 was examined through him, Exts.P17 to P28 were marked as the **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-31-:** contradiction with respect to his 164 statement before PW10. In the case of PW7, Exts.P29 to P33 were marked and Ext.P34 was marked with respect to PW8. When these witnesses were examined, they admitted before the trial court that they have made such a statement as per the contradiction marked, but deposed before the court that the same was made as per the threat and compulsion of the police. The learned Public Prosecutor submits that when these witnesses were questioned under Section 161 of Cr.P.C., they had correctly deposed before the Police and since they were closely related to the accused, with an abundant caution, their statements were got recorded under Section 164 of Cr.P.C. and when they were examined in the trial court, they turned hostile towards the prosecution only with a view to save the accused from the penal liability and with the above purpose, they were telling lie before the court contrary to their own statement made by them before the Police as well as PW.10. Thus, according to the learned Public Prosecutor, Exts.P17 to P34 and P40 to P43 can be acted upon for finding the guilt of the accused. As these witnesses gave statement before PW10 under Section 164, the same can be treated as valuable piece of evidence against the accused. **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-32-:** 21. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the appellant submits that as pointed out earlier, even if Ext.P1 is taken as true there is nothing against the accused to attract the alleged offence. Learned counsel pointed out that the procedure adopted by PW.10 is against the law and the procedure which ought to have been complied with by PW-10 in the matter of recording statement of witnesses under Section 164 of Cr.P.C. Learned counsel invited my attention to the statement of the witnesses recorded by PW10 under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C. It is pointed out that there is no material or endorsement on these statements to show that the Magistrate had administered oath on the witnesses and they gave a statement, after taking oath. It is also pointed out by the learned counsel that in the case of Pws.7 and 8, nothing is discernible as to what are the steps taken by the Magistrate to ensure that those witnesses were giving evidence freely and voluntarily. The learned counsel also invited my attention to Rule 70 contained in Chapter X of the Criminal Rules of Practice, Kerala, 1982. Thus, it is submitted that these statements are not in accordance with the above procedure prescribed by law and the same cannot be acted upon. Going by the question formulated by PW10 with respect to PW6, it can ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-33-:** be seen that those questions are not in respect of the terms of Section 164 of the Cr.P.C. From the above. It appears that the statements of Pws.6,7 and 8 were not recorded in terms of the provisions contained in Section 164 of the Cr.P.C. However, on a close reading of the statement, it can be seen that the same are tainted and invalid and inadmissible in evidence in view of subsection(2) and (5) of Section 164 of Cr.P.C. Therefore, the evidence sought to be produced through Pws.1,6,7 and 8 are liable to be rejected as the same are inadmissible .Therefore, absolutely there is no evidence to prove any incident or any fact connected with any incident taken place at the matrimonial house of the deceased. In the light of the above facts and circumstances, I am of the view that the prosecution has miserably failed to establish that there was any demand from the part of the accused connected with dowry. 22. It is pertinent to note that in order to attract Section 304B of I.P.C., the prosecution has to show that soon before the death of Laly, she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by the accused. As I have already found, the prosecution has miserably failed to prove that the accused had demanded dowry as contemplated by Section 304B. It is also found that the **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-34-:** prosecution has failed to further prove that the deceased was subjected to any harassment or cruelty connected with the demand of dowry. Even if in cases, the above two aspects are proved or established, the prosecution has a further duty to show that soon before the death of the deceased, she was subjected to cruelty or harassment. In order to avail of the presumption under Section 113B of the Act, the prosecution has to plead and prove that soon before the death of the deceased, she was subjected to cruelty or harassment for or in connection with any demand for dowry. If the above facts are proved, the statutory presumption can be drawn against the person, against whom the allegation is made and caused the dowry death. As pointed out earlier, absolutely there is no material to show any immediate provocation on the part of the deceased to commit suicide. So in that regard, the prosecution is a complete failure. Besides the above, it is relevant to note that PW2 and all other adamant witnesses of the prosecution stated about certain developments that took place between the period from 5.12.1995 to 24.12.1995. PW2 during his chief examination has stated as follows:- '5.12.95-ല CW-4-ന�� 8�8�യ �കട �ത� വന�ര�ന�. അ%�കD അട�സ�നത�ല (10th ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-35-:** page begins) 8�8�കയയ�� ഷ�ജ�കയയ�� %റവ�ട�ന8ക� ��ട� ക��ണ� വര�ന ഇളയ അന�ജന ബ�ജ�വ�കന അയച�. ഷ�ജ� വന�ല. 8�8�കയ ��ട� ബ�ജ� %റവ�ട�ക8ത�. 20 -1295-ല ഷ�ജ�യ�� രണ� ��ട���ര�� മദ1പ�ച�ഒര� വണ�യ�മ�യ� 8�8�കയ ക��ണ� നപ���ന വന�. ഷ�ജ�ക� സ�നബ�ധ� ഇല�%�ര�ന%�ന�ല ഞങള ഷ�ജ�നയയ�� 8�8�നയയ �� അന� വ�ട�ല . ��ട���കര പറഞ� വ�ട�. 22-12-95-ല എകD വ4ട�ന8ക� ഞ�ന ഷ�ജ�നയയ �� 8�8�നയയ �� വ�ള�ച� (11th page begins) അവ�കട കവച� ഞ�ന�� അന�ജന മത�യ�യ�� അള�യന�ര�യ കസബ�സ�ററ1ന , നബബ� എന�വര�� ��ട� 8�8�നയ�ട�� ഷ�ജ�നയ�ട�� ഞങള സ�സ�ര�ച�. ഷ�ജ�കയ ഞങള നന�യ� ജ4വ�ക�ന ഉപനദശ�ച�. മ�രച� 30-ന�ളള�ല ബ�ക� 50,000 � ക��ട�ക�കമന� ഞങള ഷ�ജ�ക� വ�ക� ക��ട�ത�. 23-12-95-ന� 8�8�യ�� ഷ�ജ�യ�� നല ര4%�യ�ല %റവ�ട�ന8ക� മടങ� നപ�യ�. ഷ�ജ�യ�കട സനഹ�ദര� കഷര8� ഞങള �കട %റവ�ട�ല ന�ന�ണ� പഠ�ച�ര�ന%�. (12th page begins) 24-12-95-ന� 8�8�യ �� കഷരള�യ �� ഷ�ജ�യ�� ��ട� ഷ�ജ�യ�കട വ4ട�ന8ക� നപ�യ�.' The other witnesses also deposed in terms of the above lines of PW2. Thus, it can be seen that the deceased was very much despondent in the habit of the accused in taking liquor. At the instance of PW2 and other relatives of the deceased, they interfered with the matter and the matter was settled and on 23.12.1995, the accused and the deceased returned to the ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-36-:** tharavadu in a harmonious mood and thereafter, from the tharavadu on 24.12.1995, the accused and the deceased went to the house of the accused along with Sherly, the sister of the accused. Of course, in the above passage of the deposition of PW2, there is a sentence to the effect that the remaining dowry amount of Rs.50,000/- was assured to have been paid before 30[th] of March. That portion is only the interested version of PW2 because in the light of the examination of the depositions of Pws.2 to 5 and the letters written by the deceased, I have already found that there was no demand for dowry from the part of the accused. If the above portion of the deposition of PW2 is excluded from the above quoted passage, it can be seen that the concern of all the parties is with respect to the bad habit of the accused and finally, the accused was advised to have a good life by becoming a decent man and all such matters have been settled and on such a settlement, the deceased as well as the accused went back to the house of the accused. If that be so, in the absence of any evidence and materials regarding any demand of dowry and harassment connected thereto, it cannot be said that the accused subjected the deceased Laly to any mental or physical cruelty or harassment connected with the ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-37-:** demand for dowry so as to commit suicide on 30.12.1995. Therefore, the prosecution miserably failed to show that after the settlement of all the issues as deposed by PW2 and other witnesses and after her return to the matrimonial home on 24.12.1995, the accused had subjected her to cruelty or harassment connected with the demand for dowry. Therefore, no presumption as envisaged under Section 113B of the Act is available in favour of the prosecution. Hence, the finding arrived on by the court below that the accused has got a burden to show that the death was not due to the harassment or harassment was not for or in connection with the demand for dowry is unfounded and incorrect. 23. In this juncture, it is relevant to note that the defence has by examining DW3 proved Ext.D4 letter sent by DW3 to the accused. Ext.D4 is a letter dated 4.11.1995 written by DW3 to the accused. DW3 is the wife of the brother of the deceased. In Ext.D4, DW3 had written as follows:- “8�8�യ�ക� ഇന2�ഴ�� പഴയ പ�ണകകമ�കകയ�നണ�? ഏറവ�� ഇളയ%�യ%� ക��ണ� അ2ന�� അമയ �� ന(ടത�മ�ര�� ഒകക ��ട� 8�ള�ച� വഷള�ക�യ%�ണ�. ��റച� ��ട� പ��% ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-38-:** വര�നC�ള അക%�കക മ�റ� അവള നല ��ട�യ����.” The accused produced this set of evidence to show the temperament of the deceased as the deceased was the youngest one. She was brought up in such a fashion and love which was not available to her as the wife of the accused. Thus, according to the defence, she had committed suicide probably for the reason of such temperament of the deceased. Perusal of the letters written by the deceased also endorses the correctness of the above observation. 24. On the strength of the decision of the Apex Court reported in **T.Aruntperunjothi** v. **State through S.H.O., Pondicherry** [(2006) 9 SCC 467], the learned counsel submits that the prosecution has failed to establish the essential ingredients of Section 304B of I.P.C. The learned counsel submits that even if the case of prosecution is accepted as true, what would reveal that there would be a mis-understanding between the appellant and the deceased with respect to the bad habit of the accused in taking liquor, but the same is not sufficient to automatically lead to a conclusion that the appellant committed the offence under Section 304B of I.P.C. Another decision relied ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-39-:** on by the learned counsel for the appellant is that of the Supreme Court in **State of Rajasthan** v. **Teg Bahadur and others** [(2004) 13 SCC 300]. In the above decision, the Apex Court had held that the initial burden is on the prosecution to prove the ingredients of Section 304B and the burden would not shift on the accused mainly on the basis of the prosecution that the death has occurred within seven years of marriage. Following are the other decisions cited by counsel for the appellant in **Biswajit Halder alias Babu Halder and others** v. **State of W.B.** [(2008) 1 SCC 202], **Kans Raj** v. **State of Punjab and others** [(2000) 5 SCC 207]. The Apex Court in the decision reported in **Arun Garg** v. **State of Punjab** [2004(3) KLT 435 (SC)] had held as follows:- “27. Our attention was also drawn to Section 498 A. In our view, Sections 304B and 498A are not mutually exclusive. They deal with different and distinct offences. In both the sections, 'cruelty' is a common element. Under Section 498A, however, cruelty by itself amounts to an offence and is punishable. Under Section 304B, it is the dowry death that is punishable and such death must have occurred within seven years of the marriage. No such period is mentioned in Section 498A. Moreover, ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-40-:** a person charged and acquitted under Section 304B can be convicted under Section 498A without a specific charge being there, if such a case is made out.” In the present case, the prosecution has failed to show that the accused was subjecting the deceased to cruelty and harassment for or in connection with the demand for dowry. Therefore, the decision of the Apex Court in **Biswajit Halder alias Babu Halder case** (cited supra) [(2008) 1 SCC 202] will squarely apply in this case. In the above case, the Supreme Court had also held that mere evidence of cruelty and harassment is not sufficient to bring in application to Section 304 of I.P.C. Therefore, I am of the view that the conviction against the accused under Section 304B is not sustainable. It is also relevant to note that the initial burden is always on the prosecution to establish the essential ingredients of Section 304B read with Section 113B of the Evidence Act. In the present case, the prosecution has miserably failed to prove the essential ingredients of Section 304B demand of dowry by the accused. So the finding of the trial court that the accused failed to discharge his burden is without any basis in the light of the decision of the Supreme Court in **State of Rajasthan** v. **Teg** ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-41-:** **Bahadur and others** [(2004) 13 SCC 300]. In the decision in **T.Aruntperunjothi** v. **State through S.H.O., Pondicherry** [(2006) 9 SCC 467], the Supreme Court had held that what would constitute “soon before her death” depends upon the facts and circumstances of each case. In the present case, as I pointed out earlier, after the settlement of the issue between the accused and the relatives of the deceased, both the accused as well as the deceased went back to the matrimonial home on 24.12.1995 and no evidence is adduced by the prosecution to show that something had happened after 24.12.1995. In the absence of any material showing the demand for dowry and harassment based upon that, after 24.12.1995 it cannot be said that the accused subjected the deceased to harassment or cruelty connected with the demand for dowry, soon before her death. In the light of the above settled position of law and application of the above authority in the facts and circumstances of the present case, I am of the view that the order of conviction passed by the court below is not sustainable and the same is liable to be set aside. **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-42-:** 25. In the light of the above discussion and the material and evidence on record, I am of the view that the prosecution has miserably failed to establish that the accused is guilty of the offence under Section 304B as they failed to establish and prove that soon before the death of deceased Laly, she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by the accused for or in connection with any demand for dowry. Therefore, the finding of the court below that the accused had committed the offence under Section 304 B of I.P.C. is set aside. 26. Though the prosecution has failed to establish the guilty of the accused under Section 304 B of I.P.C, the evidence advanced by the prosecution is sufficient to attract Section 498A of the I.P.C. against the accused. Section 498A runs as follows:- “ **498A. Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty** .--Whoever, being the husband of 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 wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-43-:** 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.” Exts.P2,P4,P5 and P7 to P10 letters are written by the deceased stating her agony and the suffering out of the habit of the accused in taking liquor and assault when she refused to pay money or hand over ornament for the purpose of consuming liquor. The above incidents are sufficient to hold that the deceased Laly was subjected to cruelty. From the evidence of Pws.2 to 4, it can be seen that the deceased had also stated to them regarding the cruelty meted out against the deceased in connection with the mis-behavior of the accused after having taken liquor and also demand of ornaments or money for taking liquor. In the light of Ext.D4 letter, it can also be seen that she may not be able to withstand such a bad character of the accused. 27. Under the above facts and materials on record, I am of the view that the accused is liable to be punished under ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-44-:** Section 498A of I.P.C. and he is accordingly convicted under Section 498A of I.P.C. With regard to the sentence, considering all the circumstances involved in the case, the accused/appellant is sentenced to undergo one year simple imprisonment. Set off is allowed under Section 428 of Cr.P.C. 28. In the result, the appeal (Crl.A.No.1466 of 2006) is disposed of setting aside the conviction of the appellant under Section 304B of I.P.C., but convicting him under Section 498A of I.P.C. and sentencing him to undergo simple imprisonment for one year. ## **Crl.A.No.2082 of 2006:** This appeal is filed under Section 341 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by Pws.1,6,7 and 8 in S.C.No.56 of 1999 on the file of the Additional Sessions Court, Adhoc-I (Fast Track Court-I), Thalassery. Challenging the conviction and sentence imposed by the Sessions Court in the above sessions case, the accused filed a connected appeal which I have considered in this ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-45-:** judgment separately and I have found that the accused is not guilty under Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code and he is accordingly acquitted, but he is convicted under Section 498A of the I.P.C. While disposing of the appeal preferred by the accused, I have already discussed the facts and circumstances and the evidence and the legal question involved in the above case and therefore, I am not proposed to repeat the same. 2. When the above Sessions Case was disposed of, the learned Sessions Judge considered the evidences of Pws.1,6,7 and 8 and after evaluation and discussion and appreciation of the evidences of these witnesses, the Sessions court is of opinion that their evidences are false. Purportedly, based upon such opinion, a complaint was lodged by the Additional Sessions Judge , Adhoc-I. Thalassery in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thalassery under Section 195 read with Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This appeal is preferred against the said complaint. 3. I have heard Mr.T.I.Daniel, learned counsel appearing for the appellants in this appeal along with Crl.A.No.1466 of 2006 and also the learned Public Prosecutor. ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-46-:** 4. The learned counsel very much argued against the presumption drawn by the trial court that the appellants deviated from their earlier statement suppressing the material facts. Learned counsel pleaded that the appellants have supported the statement recorded by PW10 and therefore, it cannot be presumed that they have deviated from the original statement given before PW10. Learned counsel pointed out that while supporting the prosecution case, what these witnesses have done was that they deposed before the trial court as to how they made their statement before PW10. It is also the case of the counsel that the trial court had already considered the evidence of these appellants and the accused was convicted based upon such evidence and therefore, it was not proper on the part of the court to take proceedings against the appellants under Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Learned counsel further submitted that even if Ext.P1 statement given by PW1 in the Police Station is accepted as such, there is nothing to connect the accused with the alleged offence and therefore, it would not amount to giving false evidence and it is also pointed out by the learned counsel that in the absence of any direct evidence, absolutely there is no material before the trial court to come into a ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-47-:** conclusion that what PW1 stated before the court is wrong. On a perusal of Ext.P1, the learned counsel submits that any prudent man can come into a conclusion that what contained in Ext.P1 is a hearsay and therefore, it cannot be treated as a substantial evidence and if so, even if PW1 resiles from Ext.P1, it cannot be a ground for taking proceedings under Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Learned counsel further submitted that the complaint was lodged by the Sessions Judge in violation of the mandatory provisions of law and also in violation of the procedure prescribed for the same. 5. Resisting the appeal, the learned Public Prosecutor submitted that the present appellants are close relatives of the accused in that case and therefore, being the investigating agency, the Police took steps to get recorded the statement of these witnesses under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure with an abundant caution. Thus, these appellants correctly deposed before PW10 in terms of the prosecution case and the same was true state of affairs which led to the death of Laly, wife of the accused in the sessions case. When these appellants were examined in the court, they came up with a new story so as to deviate from their earlier statement deposed before ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-48-:** PW10. Thus, according to the learned Public Prosecutor, the appellants deliberately gave false evidence in the trial court and the action taken under Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is fully justified and there is no ground to interfere with such proceedings. 6. I have carefully considered the contentions advanced by both the counsel for the appellants as well as the Public Prosecutor and also perused the documents, especially the 164 statement of Pws.6,7 and 8 recorded by PW10 and also Ext.P1 First Information statement lodged by PW1. Before going into the merits of those statements, it is to be noted that Section 193 of I.P.C. coming under Chapter XI of the Indian Penal Code deals with _**'** false evidence and offences against public justice_ '. Chapter XIV of Cr.P.C. deals with the conditions requisite for initiation of proceedings, which contained Section 195 contemplating prosecution for contempt of lawful authority of public servants for offences against public justice and for offences relating to documents given in evidence. Again Chapter XXVI of Code of Criminal Procedure contained the provisions as to offences affecting the administration of justice. Section 340 ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-49-:** of Cr.P.C. contained in Chapter XXVI prescribed the procedure to be followed with respect to the cases mentioned in Section 195. Admittedly, the complaint under challenge in this appeal is filed under Section 195 read with Section 340 of Cr.P.C. Section 340 (1) runs as follows:- “ **340. Procedure in cases mentioned in section 195** .-- (1) When upon an application made to it in this behalf or otherwise, any Court is of opinion that it is expedient in the interests of justice that an inquiry should be made into any offence referred to in clause (b) of sub-section(1) of section 195, which appears to have been committed in or in relation to a proceeding in that Court or, as the case may be, in respect of a document produced or given in evidence in a proceeding in that Court, such Court may after such preliminary inquiry, if any, as it thinks necessary,--- - (a) record a finding to that effect; - (b) make a complaint thereof in writing; - (c)send it to a Magistrate of the first class having jurisdiction; - (d)take sufficient security for the appearance for the accused before such Magistrate, or if the alleged offence is non-bailable and the Court thinks it necessary so to do, send the accused in custody to ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-50-:** such Magistrate; and (e) bind over any person to appear and give evidence before such Magistrate. “ On the basis of the above section, the learned counsel for the appellants submits that before filing the present complaint, the learned Sessions Judge ought to have conducted an enquiry and only on a finding as envisaged by Section 340(1)(a) of the Cr.P.C., a complaint can be made in writing and take consequential proceedings. According to the learned counsel, on a reading of the judgment, what can be seen is the appreciation and evaluation of evidences of Pws.1,6,7 and 8 for the purpose of finding as to whether the accused is guilty or not and there is no separate enquiry or finding. Going by Section 340 of the Cr.P.C, I cannot find any illegality in the trial court in not conducting a separate enquiry as submitted by the learned counsel for the appellants. But, on a close scrutiny of the above section, I am of the view that the steps taken by the trial court will be justified only if the trial court judge forms an opinion as contemplated by Section 340(1) of the Cr.P.C. The words employed in Section 340(1) “any _Court is of opinion that it is expedient_ in the interests of justice that an inquiry should be ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-51-:** made into any offence referred to in clause(b) of sub-section(1) of section 195” convey a message to the court that unless an opinion is formed that it was expedient in the interest of justice that an enquiry should be made into any offence referred to above, the court will not get jurisdiction to invoke further proceedings pursuant to Section 340 of Cr.P.C. In the present case, nothing is discernible from the judgment that the trial court has formed an opinion in terms of the above provisions of the section. In the decision reported in **K.Karunakaran** v. **T.V.Eachara Warrier and another** [1978 SCC (Cri) 32], the Apex Court had held that at an enquiry held by the Court under Section 340(1) Cr.P.C.,1973, irrespective of the result of the main case, the only question was whether a prima facie case was made out which, if unrebutted, may have a reasonable likelihood to establish the specified offence and whether it was also expedient in the interest of justice to take such action. Apart from the appreciation and evaluation of evidence of Pws.1,6,7 and 8, for the purpose of main case, there is no such finding as discussed by the Apex Court in the above decision cited supra and in terms of Section 340(1) of Cr.P.C. Therefore, according to me, the impugned complaint itself is filed in violation of the ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-52-:** mandatory provisions contained in Section 340(1) of Cr.P.C. and for that reason alone, the proceedings against the appellants are not sustainable. 7. Now the appellants are ordered to be prosecuted for the offence under Section 193 of the I.P.C. for giving false evidence and a complaint is filed in that direction. Section 191 of the I.P.C. deals with giving false evidence. Under the above section, the prosecution has to show that the appellants/accused were legally bound by an oath or by an express provision of law to state the truth or being bound by law to make declaration upon any subject, makes any statement false and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true. Going by the above provision, it can be seen that unless the appellants are coming under any of the three categories mentioned above, no action will lie against them. With respect to the appellants 2 to 4 namely Pws.6 to 8, it is to be noted that going by their 164 statement, the said statement is not made after an oath taken by them or after administration of an oath on them. So the essential ingredients of Section 191 and 193 are absent in the case of the above mentioned appellants. In the impugned judgment, there is no observation or finding by the **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-53-:** learned Sessions Judge to the effect that the statement of the witnesses were recorded under Section 164 after administration of oath on them and they deposed against such statement. In the complaint also, there is no averment to that effect. Therefore, Section 193 of I.P.C. is not attracted against the appellants. 8. In this juncture, it is relevant to note that on a close perusal of Section 164 statement of the appellants 2 to 4, it can be seen that they were not warned with the consequence of the recording of such statement. It is also clear that PW10 failed to take effective and proper steps to comply with the mandatory procedure contained in Section 164 of Cr.P.C. and also Rule 70 of the Criminal Rules of Practice, 1982. Though certain questions were put to the second appellant PW6, the same cannot be treated as full compliance with the procedure prescribed by Rule 70 as well as Section 164 of Cr.P.C. In the case of Pws.7 and 8, absolutely there is nothing to show that any question is put to them in accordance with the procedural mandate contained in Section 164 of Cr.P.C. and Rule 70 of the Criminal Rules of Practice. 9. It is pertinent to note that in the Sessions Case, the allegation of prosecution against the accused was that the **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-54-:** deceased Laly was subjected to harassment or cruelty demanding dowry and it is also the further case of the prosecution that soon before the death of said Laly, she was subjected to harassment for or in connection with dowry demand. Admittedly, the appellants namely, Pws.1 and 6 to 8 were cited by the prosecution to examine them in terms of the above allegation. After evaluation of the evidence and materials on record, after considering the allegation of the prosecution and after discussing the legal points involved in the case, I have already found as per this judgment that the above allegation is not correct and therefore, Section 304 B is not attracted against the accused. It is also relevant to note that the allegation of dowry death attributed against the accused by the prosecution is mainly on the basis of the oral testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and certain letters written by the deceased Laly. But, those materials are, even if admitted as correct and true, are not sufficient to prove and substantiate allegation under Section 304 B of I.P.C. Therefore, it cannot be said that these witnesses were deposing against truth or adducing false evidence. In the decision reported in **Chandrapal Singh and others** v. **Maharaj Singh and another** [1982 SCC (Cri) 249], the Apex Court had ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-55-:** held that mere acceptance or rejection by court of rival contentions in affidavit cannot form basis of charge under Section 199. The above dictum is applicable in the present case also. Hence, the complaint filed by the Sessions Judge is unsustainable either legally or factually. 10. In this juncture, it is relevant to note that though the statements of Pws.6,7 and 8 are not recorded, after administration of oath on them, the trial court treated the same as evidence on finding the guilt of the accused and in favour of the prosecution. The above approach appears to be incorrect in the light of the decision reported in **Mania** v. **State of Rajasthan and Ors.** [1987(3) Crimes 174]. The Rajasthan High Court in the above decision had held that it would not be expedient nor in the interest of justice to prosecute a prosecution witness under Section 193 of I.P.C. when the statement made before the court appears to be correct and the statement under Section 164 of Cr.P.C. is not correct and a proper explanation is given by the witness as to why he resiled from his statement made under Section 164 of Cr.P.C. According to me, the above decision is squarely applicable in the present case. As I have already found that the prosecution allegation under Section 304B of I.P.C. is ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-56-:** incorrect, the evidences of these appellants before the trial court cannot be said as incorrect or false and they stated before the trial court the reason for their resilience from the earlier statement recorded under Section 164 of Cr.P.C. It is well settled that the statement of a witness recorded under Section 164 of Cr.P.C. is not a substantive evidence and the use and purpose of such statement is either to contradict or to concur. Therefore, considering the entire facts and circumstances involved in the case, I am of the view that it is not expedient in the interest of justice and it is not a fit case to invoke Section 340 of Cr.P.C. and to take prosecution against the appellants for the offence under Section 193 of I.P.C. 11. The Supreme Court in a decision reported in **Mohammad Ibrahim** v. **B.Rama Rao** [1976 SCC (Cri) 233] had held that mere falsity of statements made is not enough to initiate proceedings unless it is stated and shown that the same should have been made intentionally. In the present case as stated earlier, there is nothing to show that Section 164 statement is recorded after administration of oath and they resiled or denied such statement deliberately and intentionally giving false evidence. Since the prosecution has miserably failed to prove ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** **:-57-:** the allegation under Section 304B of I.P.C. and as I have found that such allegation is incorrect and unfounded, it cannot be said that the appellants were giving false evidence. 12. In the light of the above discussion and finding, particularly, the facts and circumstances involved in the case, I am of the view that the prosecution launched against the appellants as C.C.No.221 of 2006 and pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Thalassery is unsustainable and unwarranted. Hence, accordingly the Additional Sessions Judge, Adhoc-I. Thalassery is directed to withdraw the impugned complaint. Thus Crl.Appeal No.2082 of 2006 is allowed directing the Additional Sessions Judge to withdraw the complaint in C.C.No.221 of 2006 pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Thalassery and Crl.A.No.1466 of 2008 is disposed of setting aside the conviction of the appellant under Section 304 B of I.P.C., but convicting him under Section 498A I.P.C. and sentencing him to undergo simple imprisonment for one year. The period which he had undergone as under trial prisoner is allowed to be set off under Section 428 of Cr.P.C. The accused is directed to appear before the Sessions Court, Thalassery to ## **Crl.A.Nos.1466 & 2082 of 2006** ## **:-58-:** receive the sentence on **15[th] January, 2009.** The Sessions Court is directed to take appropriate steps to implement the sentence. The appeals are disposed of accordingly. SD/- 5[th] December, 2008. **V.K.Mohanan, Judge.** MBS/