Delhi High Court acquits family charged with dowry death

The Delhi High Court set aside the seven-year imprisonment awarded to three brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law of a woman, who had committed suicide within six months of her marriage.

"A tendency has developed for roping in all the relations of the in-laws as accused persons," the court said.

The observations were made by Justice Pratibha Rani while hearing the appeal of the four convicts who were found guilty for the offence of dowry death.

The court also held that the prosecution has failed to prove that the woman was harassed by them for dowry.

"The prosecution has failed to prove either any dowry demand by the appellants or the deceased being harassed by the appellants in connection with any such dowry demand so as to prove that it was a case of dowry death. In view of the above discussion, the appeal succeeds. The appellants are acquitted of all the charges," it said in an order dated on September 11.

The court found that none of the allegations for dowry made by the victim's family were established during cross examination. It also added that the "temperament" of the woman was such that when she was at her parental home, after about two months of her marriage, she had tried to commit suicide.

"The trial court has convicted all the appellants on the basis of conjectures and implications which could not have been done as there was neither any proof of dowry demand nor harassment of deceased by the appellants," the judge said.