JUDGMENT :

1. Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2. The instant appeal has been preferred by the appellants against the judgment of conviction dated 04.09.2003 and the order of sentence dated 05.09.2003, passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Simdega, in S.T. No. 126 of 2001, arising out of G.R. No. 158 of 2001, whereby the appellants were convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 7 years each under Section 304 (B) of the Indian Penal Code.

3. The prosecution story in a nutshell is that on April 26, 2001, the informant's sister Geeta Devi (now deceased) was married to accused Pramad Sao, and all necessary gifts except palang were given in the marriage and she was harassed because of that. When she returned to naihar she narrated about the cruelty and harassment meted out to her by her husband and her in-laws to her mother. The informant came to know about the cruelty meted out to his sister after her death from his mother. Accordingly, informant submitted written report at Kolebira Police station. On the basis of said written report FIR was drawn up against the accused persons.

4. Learned counsel for the appellants submits that the instant case is not a case of