Radhika v. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi)

1. The petitioner has preferred the present bail application under Section 438 Cr.P.C. seeking anticipatory bail apprehending arrest in case FIR No.796/2016 under Section 304B/ 498A/ 34 IPC registered at PS - Mangolpuri.

2. At the outset,I may observe that the petitioner is the mother-in-law of the deceased. The son ofthe petitioner had earlier contracted a marriage and the first daughter-in-law also committed suicide. In the case instituted a§ae^fe^ said suicide, accused were acquitted. The two applications preferred by the petitioner under Section 438 Cr.P.C. have been rejected by the learned ASJ on 10.08.2016 and 09.09.2016. 2016:DHC:8736

3. The allegations against the aecused,including the petitioner, as found in the FIR made by the complainant/ grandmother ofthe deceased, are that the deceased Meeru was married to Raja @ Sonu,s/o Rajender in the year

2012. Raja used to beat Meeru. The parents of Raja, his mother, i.e. the petitioner, younger Bhabhi, sister-in-law, and his brother, namely Monu used to give beatings to Neeru. The husband used to flee the house after beating the deceased. The deceased had then taken refuge with the complainant. The husband was not paying maintenance to the deceased and the complainant used to provide funds to the deceased even for her domestic affairs. The petitioner allegedly told the deceased that husband of the deceased would take divorce from her and that she would get her son married once again for dowry. Upon birth of female child, the petitioner allegedly taunted the deceased.

4. The specific allegation in the FIR is that on 31.07.2016 at about 12:00 noon, the deceased came to the complainant with her daughter and went back. On 31.07.2016 in the evening, the husband ofthe deceased went to the complainant and informed the complainant that the deceased had hanged herself. The complainant alleged that the deceased had been beaten by her husband and sent to the complainant asking her to bring money from the complainant. She stated that she many times gave Rs.400 - 500 to the husband of the deceased. She further stated that she gave Rs.llOO to the husband ofthe deceased about a week ago. Even on the previous day ofthe making ofthe FIR,the husband ofthe deceased had asked the complainant for money. The complainant alleged that the accused harassed her granddaughter and that they were involved in the death ofthe deceased. ->

5. The order dated 09.09.2016 passed by the learned ASJ shows that copies ofcomplaints made by the deceased as well as the settlement arrived at between the couple have been brought on record. The learned ASJ has observed that the contents ofthe FIR substantially find corroborated in the complaint earlier lodged by the deceased against her husband and in-laws. The role of the applicant in the commission of offence appears to be her daily routine.

6. The submission of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioner is ready & willing to join the investigation. He submits that the deceased had left her two-month old child and there is nobody to look after her since the husband and father-in-law of the deceased are already in custody. The sister-in-law (Bhabhi)of the deceased is in the family way. Learned counsel further submits that on account ofthe earlier experience of the family, the husband of the deceased had given a complaint on 07.11.2014 to the Secretary, Delhi Legal Services Authority, Rohini Courts, Delhi stating that the wife, i.e. the deceased has threatened the husband of the deceased and his family members with false implication.

7. Ms. Kolluru submits that the petitioner had earlier been granted interim protection by the Trial Court observing that she would be given four days prior notice before her investigation. Despite issuance ofsuch notice, the petitioner did notJoin the investigation.

8. Having heard learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned APP and perused the record, I am ofthe view that he petitioner is not entitled to any protection at this stage. The offence is serious. It is too much of coincidence that the seeond daughter-in-law of the petitioner too has committed suieide. Merely beeause the accused in the first ease(relating to suicide committed by the first wife) may have been aequitted, the eommission ofthe suieide by the first wife cannot be ignored altogether. As observed by the learned ASJ, the complaints of the deceased have been brought on reeord,which are also in tune with the speeific allegations made, inter alia, against the petitioner in the FIR. Since the ehild ofthe deceased is two months old, she can be looked after either by the younger daughter-inlaw ofthe petitioner, or even by the family ofthe deceased. The petitioner cannot evade the process oflaw as sought by her.

9. Aceordingly, I find no merit in this applieation. The same is dismissed. The petitioner is directed to surrender forthwith. VrPIiySANGHI,J NOVEMBER 08,2016 B.S. Rohella