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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF JULY 2019
BEFORE
THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE S. SUNIL DUTT YADAV
CRIMINAL PETITION No.4492/2019
Between:
Mr. Mastan Vali D.,
Son of Mohammed D.,
Aged about 30 years,
Residing at No.36, 1st Floor,
10th Cross, Balajinagara,
Ittamadu,
BSK 3rd Stage,
Bengaluru – 560 085. … Petitioner
(By Sri A.V. Ramakrishna, Advocate)
And:
The State by Channamanakere
Achu Kattu Police Station,
Rep. by State Public Prosecutor,
High Court Building,
Bengaluru – 560 001. … Respondent
(By Sri K.P. Yoganna, HCGP)
This Criminal Petition is filed under Section 439 of the
Cr.P.C., praying to enlarge the petitioner on bail in Cr.
No.93/2019 of Channammanakere Achu Kattu Police
Station, Bengaluru City for the offences p/u/s 3 and 4 of
D.P. Act and Sections 304B and Section498A of IPC.
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This Criminal Petition coming on for Orders this day,
the Court, made the following:
ORDER
The petitioner is seeking to be enlarged on bail in
connection with his detention pursuant to the
proceedings in Crime No.93/2019 for the offences
punishable under Sections 498-A and Section304-B of IPC and
Sections 3 and Section4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
2. The case of the prosecution is that the father
of the victim on 14.04.2019 has filed a complaint
alleging that his daughter was given in marriage to the
petitioner and was harassed for dowry and unable to
bear the harassment, the petitioner had committed
suicide
3. The case that is made out in the complaint is
that the petitioner and the victim had entered into the
wedlock on 22.04.2018 and that at the time of marriage
cash and gold ornaments were given. It is further stated
that the accused used to harass the victim stating that
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the dowry as promised at the time of marriage was
required to be given. It comes out in the complaint that
the alleged harassment continued and eventually on
14.04.2019 the victim had committed suicide by
hanging.
4. It is noticed that the investigation is
complete and charge sheet has been filed. The
petitioner is in custody since 16.4.2019. Admittedly,
after custodial interrogation and on the basis of
investigation, the charge sheet has been filed. The proof
of offence is a matter for trial. The question as to
whether there was harassment by the accused and such
harassment led the deceased to commit suicide is a
matter to be proved during trial. The present
proceedings cannot be construed to be punitive in
nature.
5. It is noted that the Sessions Court had
rejected the application by observing that prima facie
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case was made out and also that there was chance of
tampering with the prosecution witnesses. However, it
is rightly pointed out by learned counsel for the
petitioner that the victim is native of Andhra Pradesh
and witnesses are also native of Andhra Pradesh while
the petitioner is a resident of Bengaluru and hence, the
apprehension of tampering of witnesses could be taken
care of by imposing appropriate conditions.
6. In the result, the bail petition filed by the
petitioner under Section 439 of Cr.P.C. is allowed and
the petitioner is enlarged on bail in Crime No.93/2019
for the offences punishable under Sections 498-A and
Section304-B of IPC and Sections 3 and Section4 of Dowry Prohibition
Act, 1961, subject to the following conditions:-
(i) The petitioner shall execute a personal
bond of `1,00,000/- (Rupees one Lakh
only) with one surety for the likesum to
the satisfaction of the concerned Court.
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(ii) The petitioner shall fully co-operate for
the expeditious disposal of the trial.
(iii) The petitioner shall not tamper with
evidence, influence in any way any
witness.
(iv) In the event of change of address, the
petitioner to inform the same to the
concerned SHO.
(v) Any violation of the aforementioned
conditions by the petitioner, shall
result in cancellation of bail.
Any observation made herein shall not be taken as
an expression of opinion on the merits of the case.
Sd/-
JUDGE
VGR
