Case Facts:
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Criminal Appeal (DB) No 280 of 2012 ====================================================== 1. Malti Devi W/O Shri Subhash Chandra Prasad Resident Of C/O Prof Mahesh Singh, K.V. Road, P.S.- Nawadaj, Distt.- Arrah (Bhojpur) .... .... Appellant/s Versus 1. The State Of Bihar 2. Rajiv Singh S/O Rajdeo Singh Resident Of Laljitola, P.S.- Kadamkuan, Distt.- Patna .... .... Respondent/s ====================================================== CORAM: HON’BLE MR JUSTICE NAVANITI PRASAD SINGH AND HON’BLE MR JUSTICE ASHWANI KUMAR SINGH ORAL ORDER (Per: HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE NAVANITI PRASAD SINGH) 3 19-03-2012 Heard Shri Chitranjan Sinha, learned Senior Counsel in support of this appeal which is essentially for enhancement of sentence. The private respondent was charged and has been found guilty for offence, inter alia, under [STATUTE] (IPC) and sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment (RI). The appellant is the mother of the deceased who happens to be the wife of private respondent No 2. Having gone through the judgment of the trial Court and the evidence and the sentence of 10 years RI, we are of the Patna High Court CR. APP (DB) No.280 of 2012 (3) dt.19-03-2012 2 / 2 2 view that the sentence, in the background of evidence recorded, is neither inadequate much less grossly inadequate. We have no reason to take a different view of the matter. The appeal is, accordingly, dismissed. M.E.H./- (Navaniti Prasad Singh) (Ashwani Kumar Singh)

Applicable IPC Section: 304B

Statute Text:
Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code. Dowry death. Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called "dowry death", and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death. Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.