Madras HC sets aside life term - The Hindu

The Madras High Court has set aside the life sentence awarded to a youth by a trial court.

Acquitting him of the dowry death charge, a Division Bench, comprising Justices, S. Rajeswaran and P.N. Prakash said, “There is no iota of evidence to show that he had demanded money in connection with the marriage.”

Senthil Rajan of Anna Nagar married Devi in 2006. At the time of their marriage, Devi’s parents gave her 40 sovereigns of gold and had also borne marriage expenses.

The prosecution case was that Senthil Rajan was addicted to liquor and he harassed his wife demanding dowry. In 2008, the couple moved in to a new house at Arumabakkam.

After the house warming ceremony, Devi was found hanging in the house. Sethil Rajan took her to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital where she was declared brought dead.

In May last year, the Mahila Court convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment for the offence under Section 304 (B) (dowry death) of Indian Penal Code. The court also handed out a punishment of three years rigorous imprisonment (RI) for the offence under Section 498 (A) (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty). Hence, he filed the present appeal.

Disposing of the appeal, the Division Bench acquitted him of the charge of causing dowry death and set aside the life imprisonment.

However, the Bench maintained the three-year RI imposed on him for meting out cruelty to his wife. Holding that the prosecution proved the charge under Section 498 A IPC against the appellant, the Judges pointed out that Devi was subjected to cruelty by her husband who came drunk and beat her frequently on account of suspicious nature.

Madras HC sets aside life term - The Hindu