Delhi: Husband, in-laws acquitted in dowry death, harassment case

New Delhi: A man and three of his family members have been acquitted of charges of dowry death and committing domestic violence with his wife by a Delhi court which said the prosecution has "miserably failed" to prove the case.

The court held that the prosecution witnesses have failed to support the case of the police and not uttered anything incriminating against any of the accused.

"No incriminating evidence has come on record against the accused persons and the prosecution has miserably failed to prove its case against them for the commission of offences under sections of IPC," Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Garg said.

According to the prosecution, the man, his mother, father and sister, all residents of Dwarka in Southwest Delhi, were allegedly torturing his wife to bring in more dowry and on September 9, 2012, she was found dead in her matrimonial home. The man had got married to the woman in May 2011.

A case was lodged against all the accused under sections 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 304 B (dowry death) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC.

The medical board constituted to conduct post-mortem on the victim's body concluded that she died as a result of asphyxia due to hanging. It also said there were no other injuries or marks of struggle on the body.

During trial, the accused chose not to lead any evidence and stated that they have been falsely implicated in the case and the victim was under depression due to which she committed suicide.