Bombay High Court Acquits Pune Man in Dowry Case: ‘Demanding Food on Silver Plate Not Dowry’
Bombay High Court Acquits Pune Man in Dowry Case: 'Demanding Food on Silver Plate Not Dowry'
Pune/Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has acquitted a 33-year-old agriculturist from Pune in a dowry harassment and assault case, overturning the verdicts of both the Magistrate and Sessions Courts that had previously convicted him.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by his wife, a government clerk, who alleged physical and mental harassment by her husband and in-laws over a period of two years. According to the complaint, the alleged harassment included demands for silver plates, gold rings, cash, and household items around the time of their marriage in 2001.
In her statement, the woman claimed her husband had once beaten her so severely over stale rice that she lost consciousness and required hospitalisation. The prosecution supported this claim with medical reports. However, the defence contested the validity of the allegations, pointing out inconsistencies between the medical evidence and witness testimonies.
The Magistrate’s court had convicted the man under Sections 498A and 323 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. He was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹500, while his family members were acquitted. The Sessions Court later upheld the conviction.
Upon appeal, the High Court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish the dowry demands beyond reasonable doubt. The bench observed that dissatisfaction over not being served food on silver plates was a transient issue and could not be treated as a dowry demand. The court also pointed to discrepancies in the statements of key witnesses and the absence of independent testimony.
The bench further noted that the alleged assault could not be conclusively linked to any dowry-related demand. Highlighting that the couple later resumed cohabitation and have a child together, the court concluded that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the conviction and acquitted the accused.
