JUDGMENT :

ASHOK G. NIJAGANNAVAR, J.

1. This appeal has arisen out of the judgment of acquittal dated 20.04.2011 in S.C. No. 587/2007 passed by the XLV Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru (CCH-46) for the offence punishable under Section 498A and 306 read with Section 34 IPC.

2. The prosecution case in nutshell is that the marriage of complainant’s sister was performed on 30.10.2005 with accused No. 1 Siddaraju. After the marriage, the couple was leading happy marital life for about 1½ months. Thereafter, the accused No. 1, his mother-accused No. 2 and his brother-accused No. 3 started causing harassment to Venkatalakshmi physically and mentally on the reason that she does not know cooking or doing household work and she was also harassed to get additional dowry and gold ornaments. On 05.02.2006 morning at 8.30 a.m. the victim Venkatalakshmi committed suicide in the house of the accused by pouring kerosene and setting herself ablaze.

3. On registering the case, the police have conducted the investigation and filed charge-sheet for the offence punishable under Section 498A and 306 read with Section 34 IPC. Subsequent to filing of the charge-sheet, the accused No. 3 has e