In a significant verdict delivered after more than a decade, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Panchkula on Tuesday acquitted a Haryana judicial officer and his parents in the death case of his wife. The court cleared them of all charges, including dowry death, criminal conspiracy, and cruelty.
The Long Road to Acquittal
The case dates back to July 17, 2013, when Geetanjali Garg, a 28-year-old resident of Sector 8 in Panchkula, was found dead with multiple bullet injuries at the Gurugram police lines. A post-mortem examination confirmed three bullet wounds and a head injury.
Following her death, an FIR was registered at the Civil Lines police station in Gurugram based on a complaint filed by her brother, Pradeep Aggarwal. The family alleged that Geetanjali was harassed for dowry and subsequently murdered. Due to the seriousness of the allegations and the involvement of judicial officers, the investigation was later transferred to the CBI on the family's request.
Charges, Arrest, and the Prosecution's Case
In September 2016, the CBI arrested Ravneet Garg, who was then serving as a civil judge (senior division) in Kaithal. His parents, K K Garg, a retired sessions judge, and Rachna Garg, were also implicated. The agency filed a chargesheet in December 2016, alleging that the trio caused Geetanjali's death for dowry under Sections 304B (dowry death), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 498A (cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code.
During the trial, public prosecutor Amit Jindal presented several key pieces of evidence. He argued that a licensed revolver belonging to Ravneet Garg was found near the body. A ballistic report indicated that the bullets recovered from the victim were fired from that same weapon. The prosecution also cited live cartridges recovered from Garg's residence and alleged ongoing dowry demands to build its case.
The Defence Argument and the Court's Decision
The defence team, comprising advocates Terminder Singh, Manbir Rathee, and Parmod Bali, strongly contested the charges. They argued that their clients were falsely implicated and had no role in Geetanjali's death. A crucial point raised by senior counsel Terminder Singh was that evidence showed Geetanjali had spoken to her parents on the day of the incident and had made no complaint against her husband, which they claimed undermined the allegations of dowry harassment.
The defence also highlighted that while the CBI initially investigated the case as a murder, it changed the charge to dowry death at the time of filing the chargesheet. After hearing extensive arguments and examining all evidence, Additional District and Sessions Judge Rajeev Goyal, the special judge for CBI cases, acquitted all three accused. A detailed copy of the judgment is awaited.
The acquittal brings closure to a legal battle that spanned over 12 years. Ravneet Garg had been placed under suspension following his arrest in the case. The verdict underscores the complexities involved in prosecuting dowry death cases, even when investigated by a premier agency like the CBI.
