Madras High Court Bench here has ordered the Judicial Magistrate to record the statement of a woman, who was allegedly set ablaze by her in-laws, afresh.
Disposing of a writ petition filed by her brother, Justice M. Satyanarayanan referred to the victim’s affidavit, filed along with the petition that her in-laws had set her ablaze as her parents did not provide more dowry as demanded by them.
The Petitioner Karuppuraja of Kuvalaiveli near Manamadurai in Sivaganga district submitted that his sister Revathi was married to Vijikumar of Devakottai on October 9, 2009.
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During the wedding they had given 25 sovereigns and other items worth Rs.50000. Her in-laws had harassed her to get more dowries, petitioner alleged. She had pacified them, assuring that she would get the “maximum possible dowry” from her parents, it was submitted.
But it came to his knowledge that Revathi had been admitted to hospital with serious burns, petitioner said.
Revathi’s in-laws had given a complaint that she suffered burns while cooking, with the stove exploding. But actually they had set her ablaze, the petition alleged. They had also threatened her to give a statement to the Magistrate as dictated by them, petitioner said.
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“When we contacted Police of Devakottai station, they told us and she has already given a statement and they cannot do anything. Hence the court should order the Magistrate to get a fresh statement from my sister” petitioner submitted.
The judge directed that a fresh statement be recorded.