JUDGMENT

Nanavati, J.-This appeal, by the State of Maharashtra, is directed against the common judgment and order passed by the Bombay High Court, in Confirmation Case No. 4 of 1986 and Criminal Appeal No. 288 of 1986. The High Court reversed the judgment of the Court of Sessions for Greater Bombay in Sessions Case No 585 of 1984 convicting the respondent under Section 498A IPC for subjecting his wife Vibha to cruelty and under Section 302 IPC for causing her death.

2. The respondent married Vibha on 29.5.1981. Vibha was the daughter of Chandrakant Shukla ...... uneducated person, who started his life as a salesman, but eventually switched over to business and in due course of time became an owner of 15 flour mills and 3 buildings. He had four daughters including Vibha. Vibha had studied upto first year B.Sc. Vibha s family was staying at Jogeshwari. At the time of his marriage the respondent was staying with his father Chotelal who was then an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Bombay. They were staying in a Government flat at Dadar. The respondent was then serving in a local concern. He had obtained some qualification in engineering from a foreign private institution. It was the