Ibrahimkhan Alikhan Pathan v. the State of Mah
Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench (Abhay S. Waghwase, J.), Cri. Appeal No. 608 of 2005, pronounced 01.10.2024. Ibrahimkhan Pathan, husband of deceased Mehrunissa (self-immolation 19.12.2001, died 21.12.2001), appealed his 2005 conviction and three-year sentence under S. 498-A IPC (trial court had acquitted him of murder under S. 302 IPC). Court held S. 498-A demands consistent, continuous harassment; quarrels over infertility, desire for second marriage and property transfer in a 22-year marriage, supported only by vague neighbour and relative testimony and inconsistent dying declarations, did not satisfy the provision; trial court's contradictory findings vitiated the verdict. Conviction quashed, appellant acquitted, bail bonds cancelled, fine refundable. Counsel-cited precedents: Girdhar Shankar Tawade v. State of Maharashtra (AIR 2002 SC 2078); Gananath Pattnaik v. State of Orissa (2002 (2) SCC 619). Court-referred precedents on cruelty under S. 498-A: Giridhar Shankar Tawade (2002) 5 SCC 177; Gurnaib Singh (2013) 7 SCC 108; M. Madhusudhan Rao (2008) 15 SCC 582; Bhaskar Lal Sharma v. Monica (2009) 10 SCC 604.