Lucknow: In a landmark judgment, the Bareilly District Court sentenced a man to 800 days in jail and imposed a fine of ₹2,54,352 for falsely accusing his son-in-law’s family of dowry murder. The case, which stemmed from the tragic suicide of his daughter, Shalu, highlights the growing concern over false allegations in marital disputes.
The Case: A Tragic Death and False Allegations
Shalu, a resident of Visharatganj police station area, was married to Sonu in 2019. On July 20, 2023, she was found dead by suicide at her in-laws’ house. Following her death, her father, Baburam, lodged a case of dowry murder against Sonu, his father Poshaki Lal, his brother Bharat, Sumit, sister-in-law Anjali, and his grandmother at Nawabganj police station.
Acting on the complaint, the police arrested Sonu and his father, sending them to jail while the case proceeded in court. However, during the trial, Baburam retracted his accusations, admitting that he had falsely implicated his son-in-law’s family. He told the court that his daughter had an angry temperament and often quarreled with both her in-laws and her own parents. He revealed that Shalu herself had chosen to live separately from her in-laws with her husband, often expressing dissatisfaction with the financial status of her marital home.
Court’s Stern Stand Against False Accusations
Presiding over the case, Additional District and Sessions Judge Gyanendra Tripathi condemned the filing of false cases, emphasizing the serious repercussions of such actions on innocent lives and the judicial system. The judge referenced the recent suicide of Bengaluru AI engineer Atul Subhash, underscoring the devastating impact of false allegations on men accused of dowry harassment.
Judge Tripathi remarked, “False cases not only lead to the unjust punishment of innocent people but also severely impact the justice system. Such misuse of legal provisions should not be tolerated.”
The court ruled that Baburam would serve 800 days in jail—the same duration that the falsely accused individuals had spent behind bars. Additionally, he was fined ₹2,54,352 as compensation.
“A Yearning for Freedom in the Heart”
The court’s ruling was not just legal but also philosophical, drawing from literature and religious texts to highlight the gravity of the situation.
Judge Tripathi quoted a poem by Harivansh Rai Bachchan:
“Dreams of heaven, radiance in the corners of the eyes, wings to the feet, a yearning for freedom in the heart. Heaven in the eyes but feet on the earth, respect this unique lesson of the thorns.”
Through this, the judge emphasized the importance of grounding ambitions in reality. He also cited a couplet from Ramcharitmanas, which warns against advisors who mislead out of fear or greed, stating that such deception can lead to the downfall of society, governance, and personal well-being.
Concern Over the Increasing Misuse of Dowry Laws Expressed by the Court
The court expressed concern over the increasing misuse of dowry laws. Judge Tripathi noted that many cases arise from disputes where wives or their families demand additional money or property. If their demands are not met, false allegations of dowry harassment or abuse are leveled against the husband and his family.
The judge highlighted the plight of women in the accused families who also suffer in such cases. “In this case, elderly women, including the grandmother-in-law and sister-in-law, had to go to jail due to false accusations,” he stated.
Husbands Maintaining Ties with Parents Often Leads to Marital Disputes and False Legal Battles: Court
Beyond the legal aspect, the court also reflected on changing family dynamics in Indian society. Judge Tripathi observed that earlier, women adjusted to living in joint families, but now, many newly married women pressure their husbands to separate from their families. He remarked, “When husbands try to maintain ties with their parents, it often leads to marital disputes and, in some cases, false legal battles.”
A Warning Against Misuse of Laws
The judgment serves as a crucial reminder that while laws exist to protect genuine victims of dowry harassment, their misuse can destroy innocent lives. False cases clog the judicial system, divert attention from real victims, and undermine trust in legal provisions meant to safeguard women.
With this landmark decision, the court has set a precedent, signaling a strict stance against false accusations while upholding justice for the wrongly accused.
