New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday quashed a dowry-harassment FIR filed by a woman against her late husband’s family, ruling that the allegations were vague and lacked substantive evidence. The case involved the husband, who tragically committed suicide just 40 days after the wedding.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna observed, “The complaint, when considered as a whole, does not reflect any act of harassment or cruelty,” noting that the FIR was a clear abuse of the legal process. The court discharged the deceased’s parents and sister from all allegations, including cruelty toward a married woman and criminal breach of trust.
The couple had married in March 2016 and resided in Pune. According to the husband’s family, differences arose soon after the wedding, leaving the husband stressed and frustrated. They claimed that the woman’s family pressured him to continue the marriage under duress and allegedly threatened their entire family with false dowry-related accusations.
The husband, the family contended, succumbed to mental and emotional strain, leading to his suicide on April 13, 2016. Following the incident, the woman reportedly left the matrimonial home immediately after the cremation and took her belongings. Subsequently, she filed a complaint with the Crime Against Women cell against her in-laws, alleging dowry harassment and conspiracy.
The court described the case as a tragic situation where marital discord and stress resulted in the husband’s death and ensuing litigation. “It is a reverse case where the husband has died because of stresses faced by him after marriage and not otherwise,” Justice Krishna added.
