RANCHI, India, Oct. 21 -- Jharkhand High Court issued the following order on Sept. 22:

1. Both the appeals arising out of common judgement, hence heard together and are being disposed of by common judgment.

2. Originally Cr. Appeal (D.B.) No.845 of 2003 was preferred by 8 appellants, out of them, appellant No.1, Tejo Das and appellant No.2, Radhika Devi have died and their appeal have been abated vide order dated 30.07.2025. The names of surviving appellants, namely, Prasadi Das, Karu Das, Arjun Das, Sabita Devi, Urmila Devi and Parwati Devi have been renumbered and the appeal is heard on behalf of the aforesaid alive appellants along with appeal of Chhote Lal Das, who has preferred Cr. Appeal (D.B.) No.1138 of 2003.

3. Above appeals are directed against the judgment of conviction dated 19.06.2003 and order of sentence dated 20.06.2003 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court No.III, Deoghar in S.C. No.6 of 2001/210 of 2002 arising out of Sarwan P.S. Case No.54 of 2000, whereby and whereunder the appellants have been held guilty for the offences under sections 304 B read with Section 34 of Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo R.I. for life for the offence under section 304 B read with section 34 of IPC.

4. We have already heard the arguments of Mr. Anand Kumar Sinha, learned counsel for the appellants and Mrs. Kumari Rashmi, learned A.P.P. for the State.

Factual Matrix:-

5. The factual matrix giving rise to this appeal in narrow campus is that the informant's sister, Chinta Devi (since deceased) was married with Chottelal Das (appellant in Cr. Appeal (DB) No.1138 of 2003) in the year 1995. It is alleged that after marriage, when the informant's sister went to her sasural, she was being ill-treated and tortured at the hands of her husband, in-laws along with other family members in connection with demand of dowry. Although, the informant, Narsingh Das had given dowry as per his capacity but the accused persons were demanding additional dowry in the shape of T.V. and golden ring. Due to non-fulfillment of the same, the informant's sister was subjected to torture and harassment and she was not provided even proper food and drink. It is further alleged that once the informant's sister was sent to her parental home with direction that unless T.V. or cash is given, he will not get Bidai of the informant's sister. It is further alleged that for the aforesaid reasons, a Panchyat was convened on 07.05.1999 at the house of the informant wherein Chhotelal Das, his brothers, Karu Das, Arjun Das and Biro Das also participated and it was undertaken by the accused persons that the informant's sister will not be harassed or subjected to torture at the hands of them, thereafter, the informant's sister again went to her Sasural. It is further alleged that on 25.05.2000 in the evening at about 4:00 pm, the appellant, Chhotelal Das came to the house of informant and told that his wife, Chinta Devi is missing from the house and he is searching for her. The informant along with his brother-in-law and 10 to 12 other persons came to village, Charghara on 26.05.2000 at about 8:00 am and saw that except mother-in-law and father-in-law of his sister, none was present there. The informant also came to know that a dead body is lying into a well, then he went there and saw the dead body of his sister floating in the well. There were marks of injuries on her face, which appeared that his sister was killed and was thrown into the well by the accused persons.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=WSRFLpK7bpll%2Fzvq9H5YQgfnfZbhdz9%2BikQUnrEH97iEgK0FVBPJdf%2BBQiaD8TVw&caseno=Cr.A(DB)/845/2003&cCode=1&cino=JHHC010143452003&state_code=7&appFlag=)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.