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10.04.2026 07.05.2026 -- 07.05.2026 AFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR CRA No. 963 of 2014

1. Mohammad Yusuf Quraishi, S/o Mohd. Rajjab Quraishi (Died and appeal abated as per Hon'ble Court Order Dated

08-04-2025.

2. Smt. Gulshana Quraishi W/o Mohammad Yusuf Quraishi, Aged About 51 Years, R/o Mastan Para, Sukma, P.S. Sukma, Civil District Sukma and Revenue District Sukma C.G..

3. Mohammad Anwar Quraishi S/o Mohammad Yusuf Quraishi, Aged About 34 Years, R/o Mastan Para, Sukma, P.S. Sukma, Civil District Sukma And Revenue District Sukma C.G.

4. Mohammad Sarwar Quraishi S/o Mohammad Sarwar Quraishi, Aged About 32 Years R/o Mastan Para, Sukma, P.S. Sukma, Civil District Sukma And Revenue District Sukma C.G.

... Appellants versus  State of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station Sukma, Civil District Sukma, Revenue District Sukma C.G.

...Respondent For Appellant : Mr. Manoj Paranjape, Sr. Advocate with Mr.

Aditya Dhar Diwan, Advocate.

For : Mr. Siddhant Tiwari, Panel Lawyer.

Respondent/State (Hon’ble Smt. Justice Rajani Dubey)

(C A V Judgment)

1. This Criminal appeal is directed against the judgment of conviction and order of sentenced dated 19.09.2014 passed in Session Trial No. 111/2008 whereby the learned Additional Sessions Judge (FTC), South Bastar Dantewara (C.G.) has convicted the appellants under Section 304-B (2) of IPC and sentenced them to undergo R.I. for 07 years.

2. Prosecution story, in brief, is that the marriage of deceased Noor Bano was solemnized with accused Anwar Qureshi about five years prior to the incident dated 14.04.2008. Soon after the marriage, the accused persons started demanding dowry, on account of which the deceased remained at her parental home for a considerable period, where she also gave birth to a male child. On the occasion of the marriage of her younger sister, the accused persons were invited, and after attending the ceremony, they took the deceased with them to their house at Sukma on 10.04.2008. On 14.04.2008, the deceased telephonically informed her father that she was being assaulted by the accused persons, whereupon her parents and relatives went to Sukma and, after counselling the accused, were returning to Chhindgarh when they received information that the deceased had sustained burn injuries and had been admitted to the hospital. The deceased was initially taken to Sukma Hospital, where intimation was given to the police, and considering her critical condition, she was referred to District Hospital, Jagdalpur. Her dying declaration (Ex.P-3) was recorded on 15.04.2008 by the Executive Magistrate (PW-2) at Maharani Hospital, Jagdalpur, where she succumbed to her injuries on the same day. Merg intimation was registered, inquest proceedings (Ex.P-4) were conducted, and the dead body was sent for postmortem examination which was conduced vide Ex.P-1. During investigation, statements of the witnesses Abdul Tahir Quraishi and Saleem Quraishi, brother-in-law and brother of deceased were recorded wherein it was revealed that the deceased was subjected to cruelty and harassment on account of dowry demand. Consequently, offence under Sections 304-B, 201 read with Section 34 of the IPC was registered against the accused persons.

3. After due investigation, charge sheet was filed against the accused for the offence under Section 304-B, 201, 34 of IPC before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sukma, from where the case was committed to the Court of Sessions and thereafter transferred to the learned Trial Court for trial. After filing of the charge sheet, the trial Court framed the charge against accused/appellants under Section 304-B (2) of IPC.

4. So as to hold the accused/appellant guilty, the prosecution has examined as many as 12 witnesses. 06 defence witnesses were examined by the accused/appellants in their defence. Statements of the ac