In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court overturned a dowry death conviction under Section 304B of the IPC, citing inadequate evidence linking the deceased’s mistreatment to dowry demands. The Court observed that general claims about dowry demands were not enough to sustain the conviction of the deceased’s husband, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law, who had initially been sentenced to life imprisonment.
The apex court emphasized that for a conviction under Section 304B, it must be proven that the deceased suffered cruelty or harassment directly connected to dowry demands shortly before her death. The lower courts had erred by assuming dowry death based on a presumption, without concrete proof of such a connection.
In reviewing the case, the Court referred to prior judgments, including Rajinder Singh vs. State of Punjab, to clarify the necessary criteria for a dowry death conviction. Despite the conviction under Section 304B being set aside, the Court upheld the convictions for abetment of suicide and cruelty, sentencing the husband to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine for each of these offenses.
