Bengaluru has reported the highest number of dowry-related cases among metropolitan cities in India, according to the National Crime Records Bureau's (NCRB) 'Crime in India 2024' report. The Karnataka capital recorded 878 incidents under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, accounting for roughly 87% of the 1,008 such cases registered across all metro cities in the country.
Comparison with Other Cities
Lucknow, which ranked second on the list, reported only 48 dowry cases. Bengaluru also recorded 25 dowry-related deaths in 2024. While this figure was lower than Delhi's 109 dowry deaths, it exceeded those reported in several other South Indian cities, including Chennai, Kozhikode, Kochi, and Coimbatore, which recorded no such deaths during the year. Hyderabad reported 14 dowry deaths.
Crimes Against Women Under Special Laws
Among crimes against women recorded under special and local laws (SLL), Bengaluru topped all metropolitan cities with 1,051 incidents. In terms of incidents where criminal force was used to outrage a woman's modesty, Bengaluru logged the highest number of cases at 897, followed by Mumbai with 857.
State-Level Data
Karnataka recorded 2,947 cases of cruelty against wives by husbands or in-laws. Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of such cases at 21,266, followed by Rajasthan with 10,578 and Maharashtra with 10,538.
The data highlights the prevalence of dowry-related crimes in Bengaluru and the need for continued enforcement and awareness efforts.
