JUDGMENT

Arijit Pasayat, J.— The appellants who were found guilty of offences punishable under Section 304B and Section 498A of the India Penal Code, 1860 (for short ‘IPC’) by the Assistant Sessions Judge, Nagapat­tinam, unsuccessfully challenged the conviction before the Madras High Court. By the impugned judgment the High Court only reduced the sen­tence from nine years to seven years for the offence punishable under Section 304B IPC but confirmed the sentence five years as imposed in respect of offences punishable under Section 498A, on the allegation that Devasena (hereinafter referred to as ‘the deceased’) committed suicide because of the cruelty and tortures perpetuated by the appellants who were her father-in-law and mother-in-law respectively along with husband Ashok Kumar (since acquitted).

2. Synoptical resumption of factual position is as follows:

The marriage between the deceased and Ashok Kumar was solemnized on 27-1-1989. At the time of the marriage, it was a condition stipulated by the accused persons that along with other articles, 15 sovereigns of jewels and a cash of Rs. 10,000/- was to be paid. Though the parents of the deceased (PWs 3 and 4) agreed to meet the d