JUDGEMENT

1. The challenge in this appeal is to the judgment and order dated 06.07.2000, rendered by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Court No.14, Ahmedabad City, in Sessions Case No.150 of 1998, whereby, all three respondents – original accused were acquitted of the charges under Sections 498A , 306 read with Section 114 of the Indian Penal Code .

2. The case of the prosecution is as follows:

Deceased Bhavna was married to respondent No.1, Avinas Dinkar Joshi, five years prior to the incident that took place on 08.11.1997. Respondent No.1 resided at Dev­ni­Sheri, Lakha Patel’s Pole, Sankdi Sheri, Raipur, Ahmedabad, with his father, mother Lalita Dinkar Joshi (respondent No.2), his sister, Alpa Dinkar Joshi (respondent No.3) and another sister and brother. A complaint was registered by Ramanlal Derasaria (PW­5), father of deceased Bhavna, to the effect that on 08.11.1997, in the afternoon, Bhavna left her matrimonial home along with her two children, namely, Puja, aged 3 years and son Kaushal, aged 5 months, without informing respondent No.1 or any of his family members. At about 9:30 pm, respondent No.2, Bhavna’s mother­