Smt. Rajeshwari Devi vs The State Of U.

P 1996 SCC (5) 121

The case of Rajeshwari v. State of Uttar Pradesh deals with the murder of Sudha, who was married to
Santosh Singh, and the harassment she faced from her husband and in-laws for not bringing enough
dowry. The incident took place on 22.11.1982 when Sudha was shot and killed in her husband's
house. The village Chowkidar Rameshwar was sent to inform Sudha's parents that she had committed
suicide and was being taken to the hospital, but Sudha had already died.
Seven individuals, including Santosh Singh, Onkar Singh, Rajeshwari, and two domestic servants,
were tried in the Sessions Court. Santosh Singh and his parents were convicted under Section 302
read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment, while the servants
were sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment. The village Chowkidar was sentenced to six
months of rigorous imprisonment. On appeal, the High Court upheld the convictions of Santosh Singh
and his parents, acquitted Mahipal Singh, and maintained the convictions and sentences of the
servants and Rameshwar.
The High Court also found that Sudha was being harassed by her husband and in-laws for not
bringing enough dowry, and the motive for the murder was the demand for ornaments from Sudha's
family. The Court found that Sudha had expressed fear that she would be killed because of her failure
to bring the demanded ornaments, and her husband had threatened her and said that bad days had
come and the day of extermination of his line had approached.
Therefore, the High Court upheld the convictions of the accused under Section 302 read with Section
34 of the Indian Penal Code, as the murder was committed with a common intention, and the motive
for the murder was harassment and demand for dowry.

1.Age of the victim – unknown

2. Age of the offender – unknown
3. No of victim – one
4. No of offender – six
5. Relationship between the victim & offender – marriage
6. Background of victim – unknown
7. Background of offender – unknown
8. Motive of the crime – harassment, and demand for dowry
9. Involvement of weapon – yes
10. Source of weapon – unknown
11. Nature of weapon used – gun
12. Nature of injury – gun shot injury
13. Number of injuries – unknown
14. Number of blow – unknown
15. Cause of death – gun shot injury
16. Other relevant factors – N/A
17. Defence pleaded by the accused – none
18. Mitigating factor pleaded by the accused –
19. Constructive liability – N/A
20. Defence accepted by the court – N/A
21. Outcome of the appeal in the Supreme Court –N/A
22. Sentence – life imprisonment as a punishment under section 302 IPC read with section 34 IPC and 4
year rigorous imprisonment for the 2 servants upheld by the HC.