Home / Crime and Justice / Delhi Court Clears Husband and In-Laws of Dowry Harassment Charges
Delhi Court Clears Husband and In-Laws of Dowry Harassment Charges
17 Aug
Summary
- Woman's family spent ₹4 lakh on wedding, later faced dowry demands
- Husband and in-laws discharged from cruelty and dowry charges
- Post-mortem report cited pneumonia as cause of woman's death
In a recent ruling, the Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition against the discharge of a husband and his family from charges of cruelty and dowry harassment. According to the prosecution, the woman, who was married in December 2010, faced harassment and dowry demands from her husband and in-laws.
The woman's family claimed that they spent nearly ₹4 lakh on the wedding, alleging that later demands for a motorcycle, cash, and a gold bracelet were made by the husband and in-laws. Tragically, the woman, a mother of two daughters, passed away on 31 March 2014.
However, the high court observed that the mere fact that a woman was crying cannot make a case of dowry harassment. The court also emphasized that the post-mortem report attributed the cause of death to pneumonia, not cruelty. The judge added that the father of the woman neither mentioned specific incidents nor provided proof of giving money to the accused, and such "bald assertions" cannot be held to be even making out a prima facie case of harassment.
Ultimately, the Delhi High Court has cleared the husband and his family of the charges, ruling that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish a case of cruelty or dowry harassment.
