Srinagar Court on Tuesday sentenced a Police Sub Inspector Tariq Ahmad Ganie to three years rigorous imprisonment for committing cruelty on his wife and also directed the convict to pay Rs 2 lakh compensation to his spouse.After hearing additional public prosecutor Mohsin Khan and defence counsel advocate TA Jan, the Court of City Judge Srinagar presided over by Ajay Kumar observed that the offence becomes more serious owing to the fact that it has been committed by a police officer who himself is duty bound to uphold laws.The Court further observed that the case is of committing cruelty on hapless young woman to demand dowry.“On the basis of material produced on record by the prosecution, the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person has committed cruelty on his wife with a view to coerce her and her family members to meet his unlawful demand of dowry,” the court said.It added that the that the convict has committed criminal breach of trust by misappropriating the gold jewellery and other articles belonging to his wife.“Accordingly, the accused Tariq Ahmad Ganaie of Sherabad Khuroo Pattan is convicted for the commission of offences under sections 498-A RPC (committing cruelty) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) RPC,” court said.“Accused is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a period of three years each for offences. Both sentences shall run concurrently and he is also directed under Section 545(3) CrPC to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakhs to the wife,” the court said.“The present case is the case of cruelty meted out to a hapless young woman soon after her marriage in the greed of getting more dowry. She was beaten and harassed for getting more dowry,” Court observed.“The offence becomes more serious owing to the fact that it has been committed by a police officer who himself is duty bound to uphold laws. The accused person does not deserve any leniency on the quantum of sentence keeping in view the gravity of offence,” Court added.While referring to various Supreme Court judgments and provisions of law, the Court observed that the crime committed by the accused is not only against the woman, i.e., his wife, but also against the society.“In such circumstances, the accused person is not entitled to the benefit of Probation of Offenders Act. The sentence of imprisonment is required to be imposed upon the accused to create deterrence in the society against such crimes,” court said.
