ORDER

The appellant before us challenges the conviction and sentence imposed on him by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal Appeal No. 458-DBA of 1988. The appellant and four others were charged for an offence punishable under section 306 read with section 498A of the Indian Penal Code before the learned sessions judge, Hissar, on an allegation that they abetted the suicide of one Bimla who was the daughter-in-law of the appellant. On a consideration of the evidence adduced in the trial, the sessions court came to the conclusion that the prosecution has not established the case for conviction against accused A2 and A5, and acquitted them of the charges framed against them. It convicted accused A1 and A4 for offences punishable under sections 306 and 498A IPC and sentenced them to undergo 5 years RI with a fine of Rs. 500/- each. In regard to accused A3 before it, the learned sessions judge by a convoluted reasoning held as follows: "A3 was the father of A1. He was old and feeble sighted. On facts and circumstances of the case, I feel that their complicity in the crime was not free from doubt."

2. And based on the above finding, it acquitted the appellant here