The court emphasized the importance of credible evidence and probability in establishing allegations of torture and ill-treatment for dowry.

We have heard Sri D. I. Fareedi, learned AGA on admission of the present government appeal which has been directed against judgement of acquittal dated 17-5-2010 passed by learned Additional Session Judge/Special Judge (E.C. Act), Ghazipur in Session Trial No.17 of 2008.

2. The charges were under sections 498-A, 304-B, 120-B I.P.C. and Dowry Prohibition Act. The allegation was that Madhu was married to accused ? respondent, Haribansh Pandey, just after 1 years of her death, she was complaining of torture and ill-treatment, if she did not bring Rs.2 lakh in cash, a Hero Honda motor cycle, a golden chain, a golden ring alongwith golden bangles for her. It is undisputed that Madhu was burnt and she died in hospital at Ghazipur, where she had been shifted and hospitalised by her husband, Haribansh Pandey.

3. The learned trial judge had scanned the evidence of the witnesses, like, Pws.1, 2 and 7 who were parents and brother of the deceased and has inferred that the claim of prosecution that the deceased was being ill-treated or tortured in connection with demand of dowry, just prior to her death, was not acceptable. The learned trial judge has admitted that there was no demand or agreement between the parties for giving of money or taking of dowry and further that the statement which was given by PW-1, Awadh Kishor Tiwari, in court in respect of demand or persistence with demand for payment of any dowry was a serious improvement in the prosecution case because there was no such statement made by PW-1 at any stage of the investigation which we find from para 30 of the impugned judgement.

4. Likewise, the evidence of PW-2, Nand Kishor Tiwari of demand of dowry was also rejected by the learned trial judge on the same and similar grounds. Besides, on probability also of such a demand being placed by accused persons before any family member of the deceased. So far as evidence of PW-7, Smt. Bindu Tiwari, mother of the deceased was concerned, the learned trial judge appears justifiably holding that she was going a step ahead of the other witnesses in improving the case by highlighting the allegation. PW-7 was pointing out that her daughter was carrying two months pregnancy and further that the accused persons got aborted the deceased so that second marriage of Haribansh Pandey could be performed.

5. The most important circumstance which was arrived at by the learned trial judge was that the lady was burnt for any particular reason and thereafter her family members, especially, her husband was anxious to save her life and he immediately shifted her to a hospital and sent information to different persons. The pharmacist of the hospital came with relevant records as exhibits 1 and 2 as treatment chart and bed head ticket to indicate that it was respondent Hari Bansh Pandey who brought the deceased to the hospital and got her admitted. The same discussion in paragraph 40 onwards indicates that PW- 2 Nand Kishor Tiwari was also informed and, as such, he arrived at the hospital who was also signing the inquest report but was not lodging any report as was subsequently lodged.

6. These are the circumstances which we find justifying the judgement of acquittal passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Ghazipur and we find no perversity in the judgement of acquittal. The government appeal is dismissed.

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