SARADA PRASANNA DALAI Vs. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, CRIME BRANCH, ODISHA AND ORS

Supreme Court of India (Division Bench (DB)- Two Judge)

Appeal (Crl.), 665 of 2017, Judgment Date: Apr 10, 2017

                        IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
                       CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURSIDCITON
                      CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.  665 OF 2017
             (Arising out of S.L.P. (Criminal) No.1570 of 2017)




SARADA PRASANNA DALAI                                              …APPELLANT

                                    VERSUS

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE,
CRIME BRANCH, ODISHA & ORS.                                     …RESPONDENTS


                                  O R D E R

S.ABDUL NAZEER, J.

1     Leave granted.

2     The appellant is the  brother  of  deceased  Sulekha  Dalai.   Sulekha
Dalai was married to Trilochan Rout on 4th  June,  2008.  According  to  the
appellant,  at  the  time  of  marriage,  dowry  in  the  form  of  cash  of
Rs.1,50,000/-, 20 tola gold ornaments, TV and washing machine was  given  to
the three accused persons as per their demand and  that  certain  additional
sums have also been given through the deceased. It was  contended  that  the
accused have  murdered  the  deceased.  Therefore,  he  lodged  a  complaint
against the accused persons and First Information Report at  Talcher  Police
Station was registered against them under Sections 498A, 302, 304B,  34  IPC
and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.  It was further  contended
that after scientific investigation, the cause  of  death  was  recorded  as
ante mortem hanging and that ligature mark found on  the  body  of  deceased
was not possible by the seized  sari.   However,  after  five  days  of  the
registration of the case,  the  I.O.  made  a  query  seeking  clarification
whether the hanging was suicidal or homicidal  in  nature  and  the  medical
officers, who had conducted the  post  mortem,  opined  the  hanging  to  be
suicidal hanging. After investigation, charge sheet  dated  4th  June,  2011
was submitted against the accused under Sections 498A, 306, 304B  read  with
34 IPC and under Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.  The  I.O.  dropped
charges against the accused under Section 302 of the  IPC.   Therefore,  the
appellant filed a writ petition being WP (Crl.) No.1131 of 2012  before  the
High Court of Orissa for a direction for reopening  the  case  and  to  hand
over further investigation to the Crime Branch or the CBI.  The  High  Court
dismissed the writ petition on 29th February, 2016 by holding  that  further
investigation into the case is unnecessary.  The  appellant  has  challenged
the legality and correctness of the said order in this appeal.
3     The appellant  contends  that  sufficient  material  is  available  on
record for framing an additional charge for  the  offence  punishable  under
Section 302 IPC.
4     Having heard learned counsel for the parties, we are of the view  that
it is just and proper for  the  Sessions  Court  before  whom  the  case  is
pending to consider framing of an additional charge  under  Section  302  of
the IPC. Therefore, the Sessions Court is  directed  to  peruse  the  entire
material on record in  order  to  consider  the  aspect  of  framing  of  an
additional  charge  for  the  offence  punishable  under  Section  302  IPC.
However, this shall not be construed as our opinion on merits of the case.
5     The appeal is accordingly disposed of.




                                                             …………………………………J.
                                                            (J. CHELAMESWAR)



                                                             …………………………………J.
                                                           (S. ABDUL NAZEER)
New Delhi;
April 10, 2017.