In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh Criminal Misc. No.M- 21072 of 2010 (O&M) Date of decision: 26.7.2010 Parvesh Kumar ......Petitioner Versus State of Punjab .......Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SABINA Present: Mr.Vishal Sharma, Advocate, for the petitioner. **** SABINA, J. This petition has been filed under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for grant of regular bail in case FIR No. 168 dated 5.8.2009, under Sections 304-B/34 of the Indian Penal Code, registered at Police Station Shimlapuri District Ludhiana. Prosecution story, in brief, as per the FIR as reproduced in para 2 of the petition is as under:- “Stated that I am resident of above mentioned address and am an agriculturist. My daughter Manita Devi. Her age was 24 years got married to Parvesh Kumar son of Pritam Chand resident of village Upri Pakhi P.S.Lamma Gaon District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh presently residing at New Azad Nagar P.S.Shimlapuri, Ludhiana, about 2-1/2 years back according to Hindu rites Criminal Misc. No.M- 21072 of 2010 (O&M) -2- and ceremonies. My daughter Manita Devi had a daughter whose age is about 1 year. Few days after the marriage, my daughter Manita Devi was being harassed and beaten by her in-laws family including Pritam Chand father-in-law, Bimla Devi, mother-in-law, Parveen Kumar brother-in-law (Dewar) and Parvesh Kumar husband for bringing less dowry. I had given dowry according to my status to my daughter Manita Devi. The in-laws family started demanding Rs.1 lac from my daughter. I being a poor person could not fulfil the demand. Whenever, my daughter used to come to meet me she used to narrate the whole story. They also did not allow my daughter to come and meet me. I received a message on my mobile on 4.8.2009 at about 9.00 p.m. that Manita has died and you should reach immediately. Today at about 5.00 in the morning I along with other relatives reached Mohalla Adarsh Nagar, Ludhiana in a pvt. Vehicle from Himachal then I enuired from the neighbours that my daughter has been killed by Parveen Kumar (Dewar) and Parvesh Kumar (husband) by giving beatings in relation to dowry and by strangulating her with a rope clinging the same to the hook for fan on the ceiling” Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner is innocent. He is in custody for the last about one year Criminal Misc. No.M- 21072 of 2010 (O&M) -3- and so far no PW has been examined. After hearing learned counsel for the petitioner, I am of the opinion that the present petition deserves to be dismissed. The allegations levelled against the petitioner are serious in nature. Manita Devi, wife of the petitioner, died an unnatural death within 2 ½ years of her marriage leaving behind one year old daughter. In these circumstances, no ground for grant of bail to the petitioner is made out. Accordingly, this petition is dismissed. However, the trial Court is directed to conclude the trial expeditiously, preferably within six months. (SABINA) JUDGE July 26, 2010 anita