A sessions court in Thane, Maharashtra, has acquitted a man and his parents who were accused of dowry harassment and abetting the suicide of his 21-year-old wife in 2018, ruling that "normal wear and tear of matrimonial life" does not constitute cruelty under the law.
Court's Observation on Marital Discord
Additional Sessions Judge Pankaj A Patki, in his order, stated that the prosecution failed to establish specific instances of cruelty or a direct link between the accused's actions and the woman's decision to end her life. The judge observed, "Mere normal wear and tear of matrimonial life, ordinary domestic discord or trivial quarrels do not amount to cruelty unless the conduct satisfies said statutory ingredients."
Background of the Case
The deceased, Nisha, a nurse, married Anil Rangnath Gaikwad (31) in December 2016 and lived with him and his parents, Sojar (56) and Rangnath Gaikwad (71), in Thane. On May 14, 2018, Nisha hanged herself at home. The Vartak Nagar police registered a case under Sections 498-A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.
Allegations by the Prosecution
Nisha's relatives alleged that she faced physical and mental harassment over household work, demands for a gold chain, and restrictions on her clothing, claiming the Gaikwad family insisted she wear sarees instead of dresses. However, the court highlighted a lack of specific evidence and contradictions among prosecution witnesses.
Defense Argument and Court's Findings
The defense counsel argued that Nisha became upset and died by suicide because the family could not attend a relative's wedding in Nashik due to the unavailability of a vehicle. The court noted that the couple lived on a separate floor from the in-laws and that the husband supported Nisha's nursing career by driving her to work. Regarding the wedding incident, the court said, "Such incidents do normally happen in any family. It was not the case that she was the only one who was restrained from attending the ceremony. Even the accused had not attended the marriage of their relatives. Such incidents in the normal course can at the most be a reason for family discord or petty resentment, but not sufficient to prove unmistakably that it amounts to abetment to take the most extreme step of committing suicide."
Verdict and Acquittal
Based on the lack of evidence and the court's interpretation of cruelty, all three accused were acquitted of all charges. The judgment reinforces the legal principle that not every marital disagreement or hardship constitutes criminal cruelty or abetment to suicide.
