A Mahila Court here on Wednesday sentenced a software engineer to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for abetting his wife to commit suicide in 2006. According to the prosecution, S.Balaji (36) of Madurai married Mirinalini in 2005 when he was working in a software company in Thiruvananthapuram. After the marriage, he demanded dowry on the instigation of his mother and sister. Later, the couple moved to Velachery as he got a job in HCL, Chennai.
He frequently quarrelled with his wife for allowing her family members or relatives to visit her. Due to the mental harassment meted out to her, Mrinalini committed suicide on November 6, 2006. The city police charged him, his mother and sister for the offences under Sections 498A. (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) 304(B)(dowry death) and 306( Abetment of suicide) of Indian Penal Code.
Meena Satheesh, Mahila Court Judge, found Balaji guilty for the offences of cruelty and abetment of suicide. Apart from sentencing him to undergo 10 years’ imprisonment, the judge imposed Rs.10,000 fine, while his mother and sister were acquitted.
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