Danvir Tomer vs State (Nct Of Delhi) on 15 April, 2026

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    Delhi High Court

    Danvir Tomer vs State (Nct Of Delhi) on 15 April, 2026

                              *      IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
                              %                      Judgment Reserved on: 06.04.2026
                                                     Judgment pronounced on: 15.04.2026
    
                              +      CRL.A. 296/2017
                                     DANVIR TOMER                                         .....Appellant
                                                           Through:   Mr. S.S. Ahluwalia, Advocate with
                                                                      Ms. Saniya Zehra, Advocate along
                                                                      with the appellant in person.
                                                   versus
                                     STATE (NCT OF DELHI)                                .....Respondent
                                                   Through:           Mr. Ajay Vikram Singh, APP for the
                                                                      State with SI Mitthan Lal, P.S. Sarita
                                                                      Vihar.
                              CORAM:
                              HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA
                                                JUDGMENT
    

    CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA, J.

    1. In this appeal filed under Section 374(2) of the Code of

    SPONSORED

    Criminal Procedure, 1973 (the Cr.PC.), the first accused (A1), in

    Sessions Case No. 1852/2016 on the file of the Additional

    Sessions Judge, South-East, Saket Courts, New Delhi assails the

    judgment dated 15.02.2017 and order on sentence dated

    27.07.2017 as per which he has been convicted and sentenced for

    the offences punishable under Section 498A and 304B read with

    34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (the IPC).

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    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
    Signing Date:15.04.2026
    13:20:24

    2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that, Julie, the

    daughter of PW2 was married to A1 on 21.05.2013 as per the rites

    and customs of the community to which they belong. Pursuant to

    the marriage, A1, her husband and her in-laws, namely, the

    second accused (A2), the father of A1 and the third accused (A3),

    the brother of A1 in furtherance of their common intention

    subjected Julie to cruelty during her stay in the matrimonial home

    for the period from 21.05.2013 to 29.07.2013demanding more

    dowry due to which she committed suicide on 29.07.2013 by

    hanging herself. Hence, as per the final report/charge-sheet, the

    accused persons were alleged to have committed offences

    punishable under Sections498A, 304B read with Section 34 IPC.

    3. On the basis of Ext. PW2/B FIS/FIR of PW2, father of

    the deceased, given on 30.07.2013, Crime No. 283/2013, Sarita

    Vihar Police Station, i.e., Ex. PW7/A, FIR was registered by

    PW7, Head Constable (HC). PW15 conducted investigation into

    the crime and on completion of the same, filed the charge-

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    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
    Signing Date:15.04.2026
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    sheet/final report dated 12.11.2013 and a Supplementary charge-

    sheet dated 05.04.2014 alleging commission of the offences

    punishable under the aforementioned sections.

    4. On appearance of the accused persons before the

    jurisdictional magistrate pursuant to receipt of summons, copies

    of all the prosecution reports were furnished to them as

    contemplated under Section 207 Cr.P.C. Thereafter, in compliance

    of Section 209 Cr.P.C, the case was committed to the Court of

    Session concerned.

    5. When the accused persons appeared before the trial

    court, as per orders dated 10.01.2014 and25.04.2014, Charge

    under Sections 498A and 304B read with Section 34IPC was

    framed, read over and explained to the accused persons, to which

    they pleaded not guilty.

    6. On behalf of the prosecution, PWs.1 to 15 were

    examined and Ext. PW 1/A, Ext. PW 1/A1-A5, Ext. PW 2/A-C,

    Ext. PW 2/D1-4, Ext. PW2/E, Ext. PW 3/A, Ext. PW4/A-F, Ext.

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    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
    Signing Date:15.04.2026
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    PW5/A, Ext. PW 6/A-B, Ext. PW 7/A-B, Ext. PW 8/A, Ext. PW

    11/A-F, Ext. PW 12/A, Ext. PW 15/A, Ext. PW 15/B-1 to 7, Ext.

    PW15/C-1-11 were marked in support of the case.

    7. After the close of the prosecution evidence, the accused

    was questioned under Section 313(1)(b) Cr.P.C., with regard to

    the incriminating circumstances appearing against them in the

    evidence of the prosecution. The accused persons denied all those

    circumstances and maintained their innocence. They submitted

    that they have been falsely implicated in the case and denied

    demanding any dowry.

    8. After questioning the accused under Section 313(1)(b)

    Cr.PC., compliance of Section 232 Cr.P.C., was mandatory. In the

    case on hand, no hearing as contemplated under Section 232

    Cr.P.C., is seen done by the trial court. However, non-compliance

    of the said provision does not ipso facto vitiate the proceedings

    unless omission to comply with the same is shown to have

    resulted in serious and substantial prejudice to the accused (See

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    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
    Signing Date:15.04.2026
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    Moidu K. Vs. State of Kerala, 2009 (3) KHC 89; 2009 SCC

    OnLine Ker 2888). In the case on hand, the accused has no case

    that non-compliance of Section 232 Cr.P.C. has caused any

    prejudice to him.

    9. On behalf of the accused persons, DW1 to DW3 were

    examined. No documentary evidence was adduced by the accused

    persons.

    10. On consideration of the oral and documentary evidence

    and after hearing both sides, the trial court, vide the impugned

    judgment dated 15.02.2017 found A1guilty of the offences

    punishable under Sections 498A and 304B read with Section 34

    IPC. Accordingly, vide order on sentence dated

    22.02.2017,sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for

    a period of 7 years and to pay a fine of ₹5,000/- for the offence

    punishable under Section 304B IPC, and in default of payment of

    fine, to undergo simple imprisonment for 6 months and to

    undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 2 years and to pay

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    CRL.A. 296/2017 Page 5 of 24
    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
    Signing Date:15.04.2026
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    a fine of ₹1,500/- for the offence punishable under Section 498A

    IPC, and in default of payment of fine, to undergo simple

    imprisonment for 3 months. The sentences have been directed to

    run concurrently. The trial court, however, held that the

    prosecution had failed to prove the case against A2 and A3

    beyond reasonable doubt and so acquitted them under Section

    235(2) Cr.P.C. of the offences punishable under Sections 498A,

    304B read with Section 34 IPC. Aggrieved, A1 has preferred this

    present appeal.

    10.1. It was submitted by the learned counsel for the

    appellant/A1 that the prosecution has failed to establish the

    essential ingredients of Sections 304B and 498A IPC, in view of

    the material inconsistencies in the testimonies of key witnesses.

    These inconsistencies, according to the learned counsel for the

    accused, cast serious doubt on the prosecution case. It was also

    submitted that there is no cogent or reliable evidence on record,

    such as any prior police complaint or communication from the

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    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
    Signing Date:15.04.2026
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    deceased, to establish that she was unhappy, subjected to

    harassment, or treated with cruelty soon before her death, thereby

    failing to satisfy the essential requirement under the law. The

    evidence on record is unsatisfactory and hence the trial court went

    wrong in convicting the appellant/ A1, goes the argument.

    11. Per Contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor

    for the State submitted that the impugned judgment does not

    suffer from any infirmity warranting interference by this court as

    the trial court has duly considered each and every ground raised

    in the present appeal and, upon an overall appreciation of the

    materials on record, adjudicated the matter on merits.

    12. Heard both sides and perused the materials on record.

    13. The only point that arises for consideration in this

    appeal is whether the conviction entered and sentence passed

    against the appellant/A1 by the trial court are sustainable or not.

    14. Section 304B IPC provides that where the death of a

    woman is caused by burns or bodily injury, or occurs otherwise

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    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
    Signing Date:15.04.2026
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    than under normal circumstances within seven years of her

    marriage, and it is shown that soon before her death she was

    subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or his relatives

    in connection with any demand for dowry, such death shall be

    termed as a “dowry death”, and the husband or such relative shall

    be deemed to have caused her death. Explanation to the Section

    says that the term “dowry” shall have the same meaning as

    assigned under Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961,

    which defines it as any property or valuable security given or

    agreed to be given, directly or indirectly, by one party to the

    marriage to the other party, or by the parents or any other person,

    at or before or any time after the marriage, in connection with the

    marriage of the said parties. Therefore, in order to seek conviction

    of a person for the offence of dowry death under Section 304B

    IPC, the prosecution is obliged to prove that – (i) the death of the

    woman was caused by burns or bodily injury or had occurred

    otherwise than under normal circumstances; (ii) such death

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    DHAWAN
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    should have occurred within 7 years of her marriage; (iii) the

    deceased was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband

    or by any relative of her husband; (iv) such cruelty or harassment

    should be for or in connection with the demand of dowry; and (v)

    to such cruelty or harassment, the deceased should have been

    subjected to soon before her death.

    15. In the case on hand, the factum of death of Julie by

    hanging has not been disputed by the accused. Ext. PW5/A post

    mortem report proved through PW5, the doctor who conducted

    the post mortem shows that Julie died due to asphyxia caused by

    ante mortem hanging. It is also no doubt true that the death fell

    within the prescribed period of seven years, as A1 and Julie got

    married on 21.05.2013 and she committed suicide on 28.07.2013,

    which is within a short span of about two months from the date of

    marriage. Therefore, ingredients (i) and (ii) of Section 304B IPC

    stands established. What remains is ingredients (iii), (iv) and (v).

    The prosecution relies on the testimony of PW2, PW9, PW10 and

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    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
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    PW14 to establish the same. Hence, I will make a brief reference

    to the same.

    16. PW2, father of Julie, when examined before the trial

    court deposed that after Julie’s marriage to A1 on 21.05.2013, she

    started residing in her matrimonial home. Prior to the marriage,

    A2, the father of A1 demanded a sum of ₹6,00,000/- out of which

    ₹5,50,000/- was paid in cash at the time of lagan, apart from

    jewellery worth approximately ₹4,00,000/-. According to PW2,

    he spent about ₹10,00,000/- for the marriage. After about ten days

    of the marriage, when Julie visited her parental home, she

    informed them that she was being taunted by the accused persons,

    namely, A1, A2 and A3 for not bringing the remaining amount of

    ₹50,000/- and that she was also beaten by her husband on that

    account. Thereafter, Julie was taken back to her matrimonial

    home by the accused, and after about 12 to 13 days she again

    returned to her parental house and reiterated the aforesaid

    allegations. PW2 deposed that he tried to pacify the accused and

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    DHAWAN
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    undertook to pay the remaining amount of ₹50,000/- on the

    occasion of Rakshabandhan, pursuant to which Julie was again

    sent to her matrimonial home.

    16.1. PW2 in his cross examination deposed that he is a

    farmer by profession, belongs to a semi-literate family. He

    deposed that he was hardly able to save anything and had

    arranged funds for the marriage through financial assistance

    received from his two sons including PW10 and his nephew who

    used to send him money in cash, but could not recollect the

    details of the amount given by them. He further deposed that Julie

    had informed them about the harassment for dowry even prior to

    31.05.2013. On 28.07.2013, A1 had called him on phone. PW2

    further deposed that the marriage was arranged through a

    mediator, PW14, who knew both the families. PW2 reiterated that

    the accused persons had demanded ₹6,00,000/- in cash apart from

    other articles, and that they had undertaken to pay ₹ 50,000 at the

    time of Rakshabandhan. However, he admitted that the said

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    DHAWAN
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    amount was not demanded before Rakshabandhan either by the

    accused persons or through the mediator. He further deposed that

    Julie had initially praised her husband and in laws when she first

    visited after marriage, but according to him, she had also

    reminded them about the demand of ₹ 50,000/-.

    17. PW9, the mother of Julie, when examined, deposed that

    Julie, one day prior to her death, had called her on the telephone

    and informed that A1 was demanding a sum of ₹50,000/- and had

    threatened her with dire consequences in case the said amount

    was not paid.PW9, in her cross examination, deposed that neither

    A1 nor his father A2 had ever called her on phone or demanded

    anything. According to her, they used to call her another son-in-

    law which also, admittedly, had never been done in her presence.

    18. PW10, brother of Julie, when examined, deposed that

    one day in July 2013, he visited the matrimonial house of Julie,

    on which day she did not made any complaint against the accused

    as she was not permitted to remain alone with him. He further

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    DHAWAN
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    deposed that A3 demanded a sum of ₹ 50,000/- stating that the

    said amount remained unpaid at the time of marriage, and that A2

    also complained about the delay in payment of the said amount

    for which he assured them that the amount would be paid on the

    occasion of Rakshabandhan.

    19. PW10 in his cross examination, however, deposed that

    his parents PW2 and PW9 had never consulted him regarding the

    dowry to be given in the marriage of Julie and that he had no

    knowledge of what dowry had been given. He further deposed

    that during Julie’s stay at their parental home, she had not made

    any complaint against the accused to him. He further admitted

    that A3 was not present on the day when he had visited the house

    of the accused. He denied the suggestion that A3 had ever

    demanded ₹50,000/- from him. PW10 further deposed that he had

    never spoken to A1 in connection with the demand for dowry. He

    further admitted that Julie had never made any complaint to him

    against A1 or his father.

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    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
    Signing Date:15.04.2026
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    20. PW14, the mediator to the marriage, deposed that after

    the marriage, A3 had telephonically demanded a sum of ₹

    50,000/- from him, stating that the same was the balance amount

    of dowry. PW14 refused to make any payment and advised A3 to

    speak to his father in that regard. He further deposed that on the

    night of 25.07.2013, Julie had called him on telephone and

    informed that she was being threatened by her-in-laws in

    connection with the payment of ₹50,000/-. He consoled her and

    assured that he would ask her father to visit her matrimonial

    home.

    20.1. PW14 in his cross examination deposed that he had

    acted as a mediator in the marriage of Julie to A1 and that he had

    no knowledge regarding the dowry articles or amount given in the

    said marriage. He further deposed that he had spoken to Julie only

    once after her marriage, which was on 25.07.2013, when she had

    asked for payment of some remaining amount to the accused. As

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    DHAWAN
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    the call got disconnected, he could not clearly hear or ascertain the

    exact amount being referred to.

    21. Now, the question is whether the aforesaid evidence is

    sufficient to prove ingredients (iii), (iv) and (v) of Section 304B

    IPC referred to earlier. Going by the prosecution case, as spoken

    by PW2 the demand for ₹6,00,000/- was made before the

    marriage, out of which, ₹5,50,000/- was paid at the time of lagan,

    which was apart from jewellery worth ₹4,00,000/-. PW2 admitted

    that he is a farmer by profession, belongs to a semi-literate

    background, and was hardly able to save any money. PW2 also

    deposed that the money for meeting the marriage expenses was

    received from his sons, namely, PW10 Sanjay and Govind as well

    as from his nephew. But PW10 Sanjay, when examined has no

    such case. In the cross-examination, PW10 deposed that his

    parents never consulted him about the dowry to be given and that

    he has no knowledge as to what dowry had been given. PW2 in

    his examination-in-chief deposed that he had spent ₹ 10,00,000/-

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    DHAWAN
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    for the marriage, but in his cross-examination claimed to have

    spent ₹ 11,00,000/-. But PW9, the mother, seems to have no such

    case. According to her, they spent ₹6,00,000/-. PW9 pleaded

    ignorance when she was asked whether ₹6,00,000/- included cost

    of jewellery also. Further, PW14 who is stated to have been the

    mediator to the marriage, admitted in the cross examination that

    he had no knowledge of what dowry had been given in the

    marriage. He also admitted that no demand was made by A3 and

    his family at the time of the marriage. He also admitted that no

    dowry had been given in his presence. PW14 claimed that he had

    spoken to A3 several times before the settlement of marriage. If

    that be so, he would certainly have known the demand(s) if any

    that had been made.

    22. As held in K. Prema S. Rao v. Yadla Srinivasa Rao,

    (2003) 1 SCC 217, to attract the provisions of Section 304-B IPC,

    one of the main ingredients of the offence which is required to be

    established is that “soon before her death” she was subjected to

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    DHAWAN
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    cruelty and harassment “in connection with the demand for

    dowry”. (See also Suresh Babu Vs State of Kerala, (2022 SCC

    OnLine Ker 5962 : 2022 KHC 954). In the case on hand, an

    overall reading of the testimony of PW2, PW9, PW10 and PW14

    reveal that the prosecution has failed to establish a consistent and

    credible proof of demand of dowry. Hence, the prosecution case

    of demand of the remaining dowry amount ₹50,000/- is doubtful,

    thereby failing to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Julie was

    subjected to cruelty or harassment “for or in connection with”

    dowry demand, which is a sine qua non for establishing the

    offence under Section 304B IPC.

    23. Coming to the offence under Section 498A IPC. As per

    this Section, if the husband or a relative of the husband, subjects

    the woman to cruelty, they are liable to be punished. Explanation

    to the Section defines “cruelty” to mean any wilful conduct of

    such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or

    to cause grave injury or danger to her life, limb or health, whether

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    DHAWAN
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    mental or physical, or harassment of the woman with a view to

    coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful

    demand for property or valuable security, or on account of failure

    to meet such demand.

    24. Here, again the testimony of PW2, PW9, PW10 and

    PW14, the close relatives and loyal prosecution witnesses, is

    relevant and important. PW2 deposed that Julie had informed

    them that she was being taunted by the accused persons, namely,

    A1, A2 and A3 for not bringing the remaining amount of

    ₹50,000/- and that she was also beaten by her husband A1on

    account of non-payment of the said amount.PW2, in his cross

    examination, deposed that even prior to 31.05.2013, Julie had

    informed them that she was being harassed by her-in-laws in

    connection with demand of dowry. PW2 also admitted that when

    she visited her home, Julie had praised her husband and other

    family members; however, she had also reminded them about the

    demand of ₹50,000/- made by the accused. PW9, in her cross

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    examination, admitted that except for two days after her marriage,

    Julie had never informed her on phone that she was being

    harassed by her-in-laws. PW9 further deposed that when Julie

    stayed at her parental house for about 11 to 12 days on her first

    visit post marriage, she did not make any such complaint, and

    even after returning to her matrimonial home, she never informed

    PW9 about any harassment by the accused. PW10, in his cross

    examination, also reiterated that when Julie visited her parental

    house after her marriage, she did not make any such complaint

    against A1.

    25. It is no doubt true that Sections 304B and 498A IPC

    deal with distinct offences, though “cruelty” constitutes a

    common essential ingredient in both and is required to be proved.

    The Explanation to Section 498A defines the term “cruelty”,

    whereas Section 304B does not contain a separate definition.

    However, having regard to the common object and background of

    these provisions, the expression “cruelty or harassment” under

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    Section 304B has to be understood in the same sense as explained

    under Section 498A. While cruelty by itself constitutes an

    independent offence punishable under Section 498A, Section

    304B specifically deals with “dowry death”, which must have

    occurred within seven years of marriage. No such time limit is

    prescribed under Section 498A, and the husband or his relatives

    may be held liable for subjecting a woman to cruelty at any time

    after the marriage. However, the prosecution has to prove the fact

    that the victim was subjected to cruelty or harassment, and such

    cruelty should be one which comes within the Explanation to

    Section 498A which defines “cruelty” as held in Sakatar Singh v.

    State of Haryana, (2004) 11 SCC 291.

    26. From the evidence on record, it is seen that the

    allegation of cruelty or harassment attributed to the accused A1

    and his family members rests solely on the testimony of the

    parents of the deceased, namely, PW2 and PW9. However, as

    discussed before, a closer scrutiny of their depositions reveals that

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    the same suffer from material inconsistencies and do not present a

    coherent or reliable case of any such cruelty. PW2 tried to

    establish a case of continuous harassment from shortly after the

    marriage, alleging demands of ₹50,000/- by taunts and physical

    assault by A1 and his family members. In contrast, PW9 admitted

    that when the deceased first returned to her parental home after

    marriage, she had no complaint against her in laws, and further

    stated that there were no consistent or repeated complaints

    thereafter. I have already found that the demand for dowry

    appears quite doubtful and has not been proved beyond

    reasonable doubt. In such circumstances, the allegation of

    subjecting Julie to cruelty claiming dowry will necessarily also

    have to fail in the light of the unsatisfactory evidence on record.

    27. Another aspect to be noted is the testimony of DW3,

    the sister of A1, who has given an account of the events that

    transpired on 28.07.2013, that is, a day prior to the incident, DW3

    deposed that Julie and her husband, A1, returned from a picnic in

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    Delhi at about 08:30 PM. Julie cooked food for the family, and

    that all of them had dinner together. At about 10:00 PM, when A1

    intended to go out with his friends, Julie objected, but the former

    nevertheless left, after which all went and slept in their respective

    rooms. Julie went to sleep in her room. In the morning at about

    06:00 A.M., they found Julie hanging in her room. According to

    DW3, Julie was a sensitive person who used to keep things to

    herself and never disclosed her problems. This part of the

    testimony of DW3 was never cross-examined, disproved or

    discredited. It has also come out in the testimony of the parents

    and the brother of Julie that one another sister of Julie also

    committed suicide. The defence version of Julie being a sensitive

    person has not ever been challenged by the prosecution. So was it

    because A1 left his newly married wife in the night to join his

    friends on the intervening night of 28.07.2013 and 29.07.2013,

    that hurt Julie prompting her to take the extreme step? There is no

    evidence as to when A1 returned in the night of 28.07.2013.

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    Nobody has a case of any foul play by A1 in the death of Julie

    except that he had harassed her for dowry. Did any quarrel take

    place between Julie and A1 when he decided to go with his

    friends on the night of 28.07.2013 despite the former’s objection?

    Did that lead to the suicide? Doubts arise in the mind of the

    Court. As held in Assoo v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (2011) 14

    SCC 448, the standard of a reasonable and practical woman as

    compared to a headstrong or oversensitive one, has to be applied.

    28. Therefore, in view of the above discussion, it is

    apparent from the materials on record, that the reasons given by

    the trial court are not quite satisfactory to hold A1 guilty for the

    offences punishable under Sections 304B and 498A IPC as the

    prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond the reasonable

    doubt. Conviction can only be made on the basis of cogent

    evidence and materials brought on record by the prosecution.

    Suspicion, however strong, cannot take the place of proof. In

    Signature Not Verified
    CRL.A. 296/2017 Page 23 of 24
    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
    Signing Date:15.04.2026
    13:20:24
    these circumstances, I find that the accused is entitled to the

    benefit of doubt.

    29. In the result, the appeal is allowed, and the impugned

    judgment convicting and sentencing the appellant/A1 by the trial

    court is set aside. Appellant/A1 is acquitted under Section 235(1)

    Cr.P.C. of all the offences charged against him. He is set at liberty

    and his bail bond shall stand cancelled.

    30. Application(s), if any, pending, shall stand closed.

    CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA
    (JUDGE)

    APRIL 15, 2026/rs

    Signature Not Verified
    CRL.A. 296/2017 Page 24 of 24
    Signed By:KOMAL
    DHAWAN
    Signing Date:15.04.2026
    13:20:24



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