ORDER

1. This appeal by way of special leave arises out of the following facts:

Balbir Kaur, the deceased, was married with Nachhattar Singh Appellant about five years prior to the date of occurrence. Out of the wedlock, the couple bore a female child. About 2 or 3 years after the marriage, the Appellant and his parents (the three accused) started making demands for dowry on the allegation that Balbir Kaur's parents had not given sufficient amounts at the time of marriage, but as the demands could not be satisfied she was maltreated which led the deceased to leave the matrimonial home on several occasions. It appears, however, that on the intervention of well-wishers on both sides she returned to the matrimonial home. The ill-treatment however, continued unabated and whenever Balbir Kaur's brother Sukhmander Singh, P.W. 6, would meet her she would complain that she was not being treated properly. On the 25th December, 1987 at about 7:00 a.m. information with regard to Balbir Kaur's unnatural death was received by her parents on which Sukhmander Singh, P.W., along with other family members rushed to the house of the accused. They saw Balbir Kaur lying dead on her cot. The police were