Sukhwant Singh v. State Of Punjab

-1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision : December 09, 2019 Sukhwant Singh ....Petitioner versus State of Punjab ....Respondent Coram:

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Fateh Deep Singh Present :

Mr. Rahul Bhargav, Advocate, for the petitioner Ms. Sakshi Bakshi, AAG, Punjab for the State with SI Tirlok, PS Kamboj, District Amritsar Fateh Deep Singh, J. (Oral) Petitioner father-in-law Sukhwant Singh has sought regular bail in case FIR No. 123 dated 31.8.2018 under Section 304B IPC, Police Station Kamboj, District Amritsar. The present case was got registered on the statement of Gurdev Singh father of deceased Rajbir Kaur. In his complaint the complainant alleges that his daughter was married to Major Singh son of the petitioner in the year 2013. However, the accused were

-2not happy with the articles of Ishtridhan and often harassed and physically assaulted her on a number of times for which Panchayats were too convened. Six months prior to the present case which took place on 30.8.2018, the deceased was sent back to her matrimonial home after ironing out the differences. On 30.8.2019 in the evening the deceased made telephonic call to the complainant intimating how she was being harassed by the accused demanding dowry and had shown to the complainant that she would be forced to put an end to her life. Thereafter around 6.00 PM, the deceased consumed a poisonous substance and was rushed to the hospital where she died on the next day.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner is behind the bars for more than one year and almost two months and there is no specific attribution in the commission of the offence being aged father-in-law.

Learned State counsel has opposed the bail attributing repeated assaults and demands of dowry to the accused and the apprehension of the deceased prior to her death about their conduct which might have serious repercussions arguing that if allowed bail, the petitioner might influence the trial.

The allegations at the very onset shows repeated acts of

-3physical and mental cruelty heaped upon the deceased. After the matter was resolved and she had barely returned back to her matrimonial home, the present occurrence has come about. The deceased had duly intimated the complainant as to her pathetic state and likely consequence of the conduct of the accused immediate prior thereto whereby more demand of dowry was being raised which forced her to take this step. In the light of the allegations and heinousness of the offence this Court does not feels inclined to allow the bail. The present petition as such stands dismissed.

( Fateh Deep Singh ) December 09, 2019 Judge 'tiwana'

Whether speaking/reasoned ?

Yes/No Whether Reportable ?

Yes/No