Ghaziabad Court Acquits Husband and Mother-in-Law in Lengthy Dowry Death Case
In a significant legal development, a Ghaziabad court has acquitted two family members in an eight-year-old dowry death case, concluding that the prosecution failed to establish a causal link between the defendants' actions and the woman's suicide. Additional Sessions Judge Dinesh Chandra Shukla delivered the verdict on Tuesday, exonerating Laxman Singh, the husband, and Bina Singh, the mother-in-law, of all charges.
Case Background and Initial Allegations
The case originated from a complaint filed by Hariom Singh, a resident of Loni, on November 16, 2018, just one day after his daughter Priya's death. Hariom alleged that his daughter was married on April 27, 2018, following a dowry payment of Rs 6 lakh. He claimed that soon after the marriage, Priya faced torture from her in-laws, who demanded a car as additional dowry. Hariom stated he gave them Rs 50,000 but expressed inability to meet further demands. Initially, eight members of Priya's matrimonial family were charged, though her father-in-law passed away during proceedings, leading to the dropping of charges against him.
Court's Rationale for Acquittal
The court emphasized that the prosecution could not provide direct or circumstantial evidence proving that the accused caused Priya's death or inflicted cruelty related to dowry demands immediately before her demise. This failure led to the dismissal of charges under IPC sections 498A/34 (cruelty by husband or relatives), 304B/34 (dowry death), Section 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, and the alternative charge under IPC Section 302/34 (murder with common intent).
Judge Shukla referenced a Supreme Court judgment, noting that while an unnatural death within seven months of marriage typically warrants a dowry death trial, the presumption under Section 113-B of the Evidence Act applies only if cruelty or harassment for dowry is proven soon before death. "The prosecution must establish that the deceased was subjected to cruelty or harassment for any demand of dowry soon before her death. Unless these facts are proved, the presumptions under Section 113-B of the Evidence Act cannot be invoked," the court stated.
Key Testimonies and Evidence
The trial saw the prosecution present 10 witnesses, including three family members of the plaintiff and a neighbor, while the defense called three witnesses, all neighbors. Crucially, the case took a dramatic turn when Priya's mother, Rajvati Singh, and sister, Anita, refused to support the dowry death claim. Rajvati described her daughter as ill-tempered and suggested suicide as a possible cause, a statement corroborated by Anita, who added that Priya never complained of ill-treatment at her matrimonial home. Both witnesses were declared hostile by the prosecution after they denied knowledge of the Rs 50,000 payment alleged by Hariom.
Medical evidence further weakened the prosecution's case. The autopsy doctor confirmed that Priya's death resulted from hanging, not strangulation, and noted no pre-death injury marks on her body. Defense witnesses also clarified that Priya lived with her husband Laxman, while her in-laws resided separately in rented accommodation, challenging the narrative of continuous harassment.
Implications and Conclusion
This acquittal underscores the judicial principle that convictions require robust evidence, even in sensitive cases like dowry deaths. The eight-year legal battle highlights the complexities of proving dowry-related offenses, especially when key witnesses recant or evidence is inconclusive. The court's decision reaffirms the necessity for prosecutors to meticulously establish the timeline and causation of alleged cruelty, ensuring justice is served based on factual merit rather than presumption alone.
