1. Feeling aggrieved by and dissatisfied with the
judgment and order of acquittal dated 06.09.2010, passed by
the learned Additional District Judge, Vadodara in Sessions
Case No.29/2009, for the offences punishable under Sections
498A and 306 of the India Penal Code, the appellant – State
of Gujarat has preferred this appeal under Section 378 of the
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short, “the Code”).
2. The prosecution case as unfolded during the trial
before the Sessions Court is that, the deceased-complainant
Lilaben Yashwant Ramchandra Dangey, had lodged a
complaint, at Fatehganj Police Station, registered as I-CR No.
240/08, alleging commission of offences punishable under
Sections 498A and 306 of the Indian Penal Code. It is the
NEUTRAL CITATION
R/CR.A/2167/2010 CAV JUDGMENT DATED: 17/03/2026
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case of the prosecution that the marriage of deceased Lilaben
with the present accused was solemnized about twelve years
prior to the incident and she resided at her matrimonial
home with the accused and their two children. During the
subsistence of marriage, the accused is alleged to have
harboured suspicion over her character and subjected her to
continuous physical and mental harassment, often taunting
her by saying “You are of bad character and immoral”,
thereby causing cruelty to such an extent that she was left
with no option but to commit suicide. It is alleged that due
to the persistent harassment over the last two years, on
23/08/2008 at about 12:45 hours, the deceased poured
kerosene over her body at her matrimonial home and set
herself ablaze. During the course of treatment, on 28/08/2008
at around 06:00 hours, she succumbed to the burn injuries.
Therefore, the complaint was filed against the respondent/s-
accused.