Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 19: Excise Magistrate Jammu Umesh Sharma today rejected the bail application of Sudesh Kumari, mother-in-law of dowry victim Sheetal Bhagat.
According to the police case, an information was received by Police Station Gandhi Nagar to the effect that one Sheetal Bhagat, who was married to one Ajay Kumar has committed suicide by hanging herself by neck. The reason attributed to the suicide of the deceased was cited as harassment and cruelty inflicted upon her by her husband on the instigation of her parents-in-law as well as maternal aunt of her husband in connection with demand of dowry.
After hearing APP Yogesh Bamba appearing for the police, the court observed, “the investigation of the case is in progress and evidence of some extra marital affair of the husband of the deceased has also come up during the investigation of the case”, adding “the accused has been arrested just few days back and many other material aspects of the case are yet to be investigated and in case the accused is enlarged on bail there is every apprehension that she may tamper with the evidence and may also flee away from the clutches of law”.
“The gender of the applicant is only one of the circumstances to be considered while deciding a bail application and to suggest the same as a sole/only circumstance which would entitle an accused to bail in all eventualities irrespective of severity of crime is an erroneous argument”, the court said, adding “the offence of dowry death allegedly to have been committed by the accused is very serious in nature and is punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 7 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and is triable by Sessions Court”.
“Although two of the accused persons of the instant case have been arrested and are on police remand still the two other accused persons which include the husband and the father-in-law of the deceased are still evading their arrest and have absconded after the commission of the crime”, the court said.
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