JUDGMENT

1. This Appeal is preferred by the State of Maharashtra challenging the judgment and order dtd. 16/3/2007, passed by Ad-hoc District Judge, Satara, acquitting the accused for the ofences punishable under Ss. 306 read with 34 and 498-A read with 34 of Indian Penal Code ("IPC', for short).

2. The respondents herein were accused nos.1 to 5. Learned advocate for respondents, on instructions, submitted that respondent nos.3 and 4 has expired during the pendency of this Appeal. Respondent no.3 has died on 19/6/2014, and, respondent no.4 has expired on 9/9/2021. The photocopies of the death certifcates are produced, which are taken on record and marked "X' and "X-1', for identifcation. The Appeal as against the said respondents would stand abated.

3. The case of the prosecution is that the deceased was married to respondent no.1 (accused no.1) about three and half years prior to the incident in question. The FIR was lodged by the brother of the deceased on 26/11/2004. For a period of about one year after the marriage, the deceased was treated well. However, thereafter, the accused had ill treated the deceased. There was demand of articles by them. There was continuous harassment t