The Bombay HC recently upheld the life sentence awarded to a man, his sister and mother for allegedly harassing the man’s wife and murdering her after she failed to meet their demands for dowry.
A division bench of Justice VK Tahilramani and Justice PD Kode sentenced Mohammed Parvez Pyarejan Shaikh (27), Shabhana Pyarejan Shaikh (26) and Khairunissa Pyarejan Shaikh (60) under Section 498-A (dowry harrasment) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
According to the prosecution, the deceased, Najma Parvez Shaikh, had married Mohammed in February 2005. Soon after their marriage, Najma was ill-treated by Parvez, her alcoholic husband. His mother and sister, who stayed with the couple in Vile Parle, joined him in torturing her.
It was alleged that the accused had taken a loan of Rs45,000 from the father of the deceased which he never returned. Whenever a demand for the return of the money was made, Najma was physically abused.
Additional public prosecutor Pradeep Hingorani said, “On several occasions, the victim would go back to her parents’ home. She would then be coaxed and assured of a happy married life and sent back to her matrimonial house. Over time, the harassment grew and on the night of December 4, she was poisoned to death.
The police said the accused called their neighbors and told them that Najma had lost consciousness after consuming poison. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead on admission. An autopsy revealed injury marks on her body, indicating that it was a homicidal death and not suicide.
A lower court found the accused guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The order was challenged in the HC which, while upholding it, noted, “We find that no error was committed by the trial court, the prosecution evidence having established the guilt of all the appellants for commission of the offenses for which they were convicted and sentenced.”
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