Court: Delhi High Court
Bench: JUSTICE Shiv Narayan Dhingra
Raj Rani Vs. State On 23 February 2011
Law Point:
Sections 304B, 498A — Bail — Dowry Death, Cruelty — Grant of bail to appellant mother-in-law — If role of two accused persons is same in a crime and Court considers one fit for granting bail, other accused on ground of parity is also entitled for grant of bail — Parents of girl have assigned same role to everyone in family of in-laws, whether they were living in same house or not — Husband and wife were living on a separate floor separate from her parents — Other relatives were living at far off places, still allegations against everyone were same — Bail cannot be denied to mother-in-law despite allegations qua her and other accused persons being same simply because she is mother-in-law — Being mother in law is not a crime in itself — Bail granted to applicant.
JUDGEMENT
1. This application for bail has been made on behalf of the petitioner who is mother-in-law of the deceased and is facing trial under Sections 498A/304B, Indian Penal Code. The deceased in this case was married to Ramesh on 14th April 2007. On 16th November 2009, an information was received that she was admitted in Safdarjung Hospital after consuming poison. She did not leave behind a dying declaration. The statement of father of the deceased was recorded and in his statement father alleged that one month after marriage, in-laws of his daughter started harassing her. Once she was beaten so much that the bone of her nose broke down and his daughter to be operated in a hospital in Prashant Vihar. He had received information of quarrel from his daughter on telephone that a day before she was admitted in hospital and his daughter reported that she had been beaten by her in-laws and they had again started harassing her. She had requested him to send his son to his house. However, after half an hour, he received a telephone call from his damad Ramesh thathis daughter consumed poison and she was taken to Jagjivan Ram Hospital. She was later on admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. He alleged that in-laws of her daughter namely her husband Ramesh, Sasur Sahib Singh, Sash Raj Rani, Nanand Manju and Nandoi Kuku, Anil, elder brother of her husband used to harass his daughter for dowry. A case under Sections 498A 304B, IPC was registered against all the persons.
2. It is submitted by the Counsel for the petitioner/ applicant that in the initial statement made to Executive Magistrate complainant i.e. father of the deceased had not alleged any harassment meted out to his daughter on account of dowry or any cruelty being meted out to her soon before her death. It is only later on in his statement under Section 161, Cr.P.C. recorded after many days that father made vague allegations against every member of the family under Sections 498A/304B, IPC. He submitted that in view of these vague and general allegations against every member of the family of the husband including married sister who were living separate, the learned Sessions Judge granted anticipatory bail to the married sisters, their husbands and brother-in-law and father-in-law. He submits that mother in law was denied bail only because she was mother-in-law. He further submits that the allegations against mother-in-law were the same as the allegations against other family members and being a mother-in-law is not a crime in itself and on the ground of parity, the bail should be granted to the present applicant.
3. On the other hand, learned APP has submitted that the unnatural death in this case had taken place about two and half years of the marriage. The deceased left behind a child of about two years of age and there is statement of father of the deceased that she was beaten on the same day as also four days prior to the incident. He further submits that the parents of the deceased have been examined in the Court and they have supported the case of the prosecution.
4. It is an undisputed fact that the allegations of harassment on account of dowry demand were made by the father of the deceased against each and every member of the family of husband. No specific dowry demand was stated and in his earlier statement made before the Special Executive Magistrate, these allegations were missing. On the basis of same allegations, the other accused persons have been granted bail by the learned Sessions Judge. If two accused persons are similarly placed, both ought to be given equal treatment in a case. If the role of two accused persons is same in a crime and Court considers one fit for granting bail, the other accused on the ground of parity is also entitled for grant of bail.
5. The parents of the girl have assigned same role to everyone in the family of in-laws, whether they were living in the same house or not. The husband and wife in this case were living on a separate floor separate from the parents. Other relatives were living at far off places, still the allegations against everyone were same. The bail cannotbe denied to mother-in-law despite the allegations qua her and other accused persons being same simply because she is mother- in-law. Being mother-in-law is not a crime in itself.
6. I, therefore, allow this bail application. It is directed that the applicant/ petitioner be released on bail on her furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of trial Court concerned. However, the applicant shall ensure that the trial is not prolonged by seeking adjournments and if a witness is present, the same shall not be sent unexamined because of excuses made by the Counsel for the applicant/ accused.
7. The application stands disposed of.
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