In Brief
Anusuiya (mother-in-law) and Chandrashekhar (husband) were convicted of abetting the suicide of Rekhabai under Section 306 IPC and cruelty under Section 498A IPC. Rekhabai died within six months of marriage by consuming rat poison after her in-laws harassed her for dowry and beat her. The trial court and high court both found the appellants guilty. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction, finding that Section 113-A of the Evidence Act (dowry death presumption) applied and was not rebutted. However, the Court reduced sentences considering the appellant No. 1's age (75 years) and time served, and appellant No. 2's remarriage into the deceased's family creating cordial relations. The appeal was partly allowed with modified sentences.
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