In Brief
This case involved appellants (in-laws of deceased bride Shanti Devi) convicted under IPC sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) for the 1994 death of the bride from burn injuries. The prosecution proved that within seven years of marriage, the bride was subjected to repeated demands for dowry and ill-treatment, including being turned out of the home. Medical evidence showed death from 100% ante-mortem burns caused by kerosene. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and High Court's sentence (7 years for s. 304B, 1 year for s. 498A), holding all three legal ingredients of dowry death established and the statutory presumption under s. 113B of the Evidence Act properly invoked against the accused.
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