( 1 ) A question of importance concerning the interpretation of section 17 of the Hindu Marriage Act (Central Act XXV of 1955) read with section 494, Indian Penal Code, is involved in this reference which has been made by my learned brother, Basi Reddy, J. This revision petition is filed by the petitioner (first accused) against Criminal appeal No. 338 of 1959 on the file of the Sessions Judge, Rajahmundry, who dismissed it. That appeal arose out of C. C. No. 66 of 1959 on the file of the Additional district Munsif-Magistrate, Ramachandrapuram. As against the first accused a private complaint was laid under section 494, Indian Penal Code, read with section 17 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (Central Act XXV of 1955) alleging that this accused, a retired elementary school teacher, contracted a marriage with the second accused, who is the daughter of accused 3 and 4, even though he had at the date of the marriage with the second accused the complainant as his wife. The second accused is the second wife of the first accused ; and accused 3 and 4 who are the father and mother of the second accused, stood charged under section 494 read with sections 109 and 114, Indian P