Family gets 5 yrs’ RI in dowry case

Physical, emotional harassment by husband, in-laws led Andheri bride to jump off building

Vivek Sarve (Tata Press employee) married Reema Gosain, now deceased in 1998, against wishes of his parents and reaped the gruesome fruit of harassment physical, emotional and mental; including black magic attacks in an attempt to separate the couple and forced visits to a ‘tantrik’ in Thane. Worst of all she had to go late in night to Bhandup and Mulund crematoriums to complete rituals and dispose of two coconuts on two different burning pyres.

Within two years of the unhappy marriage, depression and harassment took its toll leading this commerce graduate (BARC College) to jump off ‘Dhavalgiri Apartments’ in Andheri on December 11, 2000 and kill herself.

Additional Sessions Judge SN Sardesai, on Thursday sentenced Vivek and his parents Madhuri and Madhukar, to 5 years rigorous imprisonment and an aggregate fine of Rs. 2,000 each for dowry harassment and abetting suicide.

“It was a sad case of a love marriage gone sour because Vivek the husband could not stand up against the unjust demands of his mother Madhuri. Madhukar, the father added to Reema’s woes by insisting she divorce Vivek,” said Additional public prosecutor Nilima Kasture.

“Despite the ardent and continuous support of her parents Reema was unable to deal with Vivek’s unexpected perfidy and pusillanimous nature. She had lost all confidence in herself,” testified Rajesingh Gosain, Reema’s father, “She often complained of ill-treatment during her stay at Powai in Vivek’s home.”

“We even bought a separate house for them; but her in-laws insisted Vivek return home to them. Vivek abandoned Reema. She then lived with us much against her wish to be with Vivek,” ended Rajesingh. Reema’s mother Daveshwari has lost her balance after Reema’s suicide.