JUDGMENT :

Abdullah Gulamahmed Uraizee, J.

1. The appellant has assailed the judgment and order dated 15.09.2000 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Court No. 19, Ahmedabad in Sessions Case No. 36 of 1997, whereunder, the appellant who is accused No. 1 convicted for the offence punishable under Sections 498(A) and 306 of Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act while other two accused persons who happened to be the father and mother respectively came to be acquitted.

2. The facts of the prosecution case as could be gathered from the impugned judgment are that the marriage of the deceased-- Gitaben was solemnized with the appellant around 5 years before the incident which happened on 3.07.1996. At the time of marriage, Gold and Silver ornaments, cloths, utensils, furniture etc. was given. The acquitted accused No. 2--Udesinh Vadansinh and accused No. 3--Ugamben Udesinh were the father-in-law and the mother-in-law of deceased--Gitaben. After the marriage, deceased--Gitaben started living with the appellant and acquitted accused No. 2 & 3 (father-in-law & mother-in-law respectively) in joint family at Ahmedabad.

3. The marriage life was smooth for the firs