Delhi court acquits husband, in-laws in dowry death case

Delhi court acquits husband, in-laws in dowry death case

New Delhi, A Delhi court has acquitted a man and his parents in a dowry death case, saying the prosecution failed to establish allegations of cruelty or dowry harassment against them.

Delhi court acquits husband, in-laws in dowry death case

Additional Sessions Judge Deepak Wason acquitted Kartik Sharma, his father Ravi Dutt Sharma, and his mother Veena Sharma in the case of Shivali Sharma, who died by suicide in March 2023.

The accused were facing trial under Sections 498A and 304B of the IPC.

In the April 1 order, the court said, "There is nothing on record to establish the culpability of the accused persons in the commission of the offences charged against them. The prosecution has failed to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt."

It held that while the death was unnatural and occurred within seven years of marriage, the key elements of dowry death, particularly proof of harassment connected to dowry demands, remained unproven.

According to the prosecution, the deceased's family alleged she was subjected to harassment and repeated dowry demands, including cash and a vehicle, which allegedly drove her to commit suicide.

The police registered the FIR after her parents made statements before an executive magistrate.

However, during the trial, key prosecution witnesses, including the deceased's mother, father, brother, uncle and grandmother, did not support the allegations in the court.

They consistently stated that Shivali was living a "peaceful and happy" married life and denied any dowry demand or harassment by the accused.

The witnesses further attributed her death to depression caused by her child's serious medical condition.

The court noted that the testimonies of close relatives, considered the most material witnesses, revealed no evidence of cruelty or dowry-related harassment "soon before her death," a crucial requirement to establish an offence under Section 304B IPC.

The court observed that the medical evidence confirmed death due to asphyxia caused by hanging.

Giving the benefit of the doubt, the court said this alone was insufficient to implicate the accused without corroborative evidence of cruelty.

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