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Wife's Dying Words Seal Husband's Life Sentence
2 Oct
Summary
- Husband sentenced to life for dowry murder after 14 years.
- Victim's dying testimony proved crucial evidence in court.
- Accused's parents died during the lengthy court proceedings.
After a 14-year legal battle, a man identified as Gulshan from Sherpur Khichra has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the dowry-related murder of his wife, Nasreen. The Ghaziabad court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 under Section 302 IPC and an additional three years with a Rs 2,000 fine under Section 498A IPC.
The court ruled that while the crime was heinous, it did not meet the threshold for capital punishment. Gulshan's brother, Monu, and sister, Asma, were acquitted of all charges due to a lack of established culpability. The accused's parents, initially named in the FIR, had died during the protracted legal proceedings.
Nasreen married Gulshan on May 15, 2011. By March 2012, her brother reported that Gulshan and his family were demanding a dowry of Rs 1 lakh and a motorcycle. Despite receiving Rs 50,000, the abuse continued, culminating in Gulshan allegedly setting Nasreen on fire on March 25, 2012.
Nasreen provided a dying declaration at Safdarjung Hospital, where she was battling for life. She later died on April 1, 2012. Her statement, detailing her husband's actions, was pivotal. Although her hair tested negative for kerosene and viscera reports showed no poison, the court deemed her dying declaration credible, especially against the defense's claims of suicide or fabricated evidence. The court concluded that the prosecution had proven murder charges against Gulshan beyond reasonable doubt.
