S.498A, IPC : Husband Acquitted in a Judgment dt. 26 April 2023

 S.498A, IPC : Husband Acquitted in a Judgment dt. 26 April 2023 

Recently, accused has been acquitted in a judgment on 26 April 2023. 

According to the written complaint, complainant's eldest daughter married to accused for over twenty five years, used to be tortured and harassed by accused persons. It is alleged in the written complaint that in the late evening of 14.01.2002 these torturers and harassers had killed daughter by setting her on fire. Police was asked to investigate the matter. Charge   sheet   was   filed   on   29.07.2002   against   several family members   and   it   was   alleged   by   the   IO   that   these   accused   persons   had violated sections 498A/302 IPC. Charge   was   framed   against   the   five   accused   under   sections 498A/302/34 IPC on 18.05.2006. As the accused pleaded not 

guilty to such charge the stage was set for trial.

It was noted that  PW­3 was examined by the IO during the investigation but this witness had omitted to tell the IO a major portion of the testimony which was uttered in court.

It was held that it is clear from the Exhibit 6 (series) that victim was conscious and oriented at the time of her admission to hospital. It is also apparent that she could speak at that time and had narrated the history of the incident to the doctor. There was no complaint by victim about any foul play by any of the accused in­laws. This singular fact, considered in conjunction   with   the   indisputable   position   that   there   exists   no   direct evidence vis­a vis the charge under section 302 IPC, rules out murder. The I.O. was being untruthful when he tried to give the impression that dying declaration could not be recorded as victim was not in a position to effectively communicate with others. The reality is that victim had herself stated about the incident of fire without incriminating any of the accused in laws and her statement in this regard was actually dying 

declaration exonerating the accused by the clearest of implication. 

It was also held that the   vague   allegations   of   assault ventilated by these witnesses are not sufficient to coax the court to find in favour of commission of the offence punishable under section 

498A of the Penal Code.

Written by 

Vishal

Delhi

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