The judgment of acquittal passed by the Fast Track Court-V in S.C.7/03 is called in question by the State represented by Sanjaynagar police station in this appeal.

2. Respondents in the appeal were the accused in S.C.7/03 against whom charge sheet was filed for the offences punishable under Sections 498A, 304B, 306bread with Section 34, I.P.C. and Sections 3, 4 and 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. Later on, Section 302,

I.P.C. came to be invoked against them. After a full-fledged trial, they have been acquitted.

3. The case on hand relates to the death of a married lady-Smt. Radha, daughter of PW3-Ratanlal in the house of accused nos.1 to 4 within 7 years from the date of her marriage with the 1st accused-Deepak Kumar, son of accused nos.2 and 3. Their marriage was solemnized on 6.5.1994 in Bheemnagar of Rajasthan as per the customs of their community. Six months prior to the marriage, betrothal ceremony was held in Bengaluru in which Ratanlal-PW3, Birdichand, Aravindkumar (Arunkumar) and Sampathraj had participated in the marriage talks.

4. As per the prosecution case, accused had demanded dowry in cash of Rs.25,000/-, gold ornaments weighing 150 grams, silver articles w