A Delhi court has acquitted four persons in a dowry death case, saying that “the allegation of subjecting the victim to cruelty was vague and could not be substantiated”.
Acquitting the accused persons, including the husband of the victim, Additional Sessions Judge Kuldeep Narayan at the Tis Hazari Courts said: “It is clear from the testimonies of the parents and the sister that all the allegations about harassment or cruelty on the part of the accused persons remained vague in nature and could not be substantiated.”
“There is no direct evidence available on record to establish that any of the accused persons subjected the deceased to cruelty. The prosecution failed to establish the essential ingredients of the offence punishable under IPC Section 498A [harassing a married woman for dowry] against the accused,” the Judge said.
The complaint lodged by the victim’s mother stated that her daughter had married Rohit in 2013. Just 10 to 12 days after the marriage, her husband, father-in-law Ramesh Kumar, mother-in-law Shashi, sister-in-law Monika and brother-in-law Amit started harassing her for dowry. They had demanded a car from her, she alleged.
The woman had committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling at her matrimonial home allegedly due to harassment for dowry.
“Accused persons namely Rohit Kumar, Ramesh Kumar, Shashi and Amit are acquitted of the charge qua commission of offences punishable under IPC Section 304B [dowry death] /498A/34 IPC. Offence under IPC Section 306 [abetting the commission of suicide] is not made out against any of the accused,” the Judge said while acquitting them.
Monika was a minor, therefore, charge sheet against her was filed before the Juvenile Justice Board.
The accused in their statements had said that they had been implicated in the case.
