In Brief
Ram Sahay Mahto and his mother Parvati Devi were convicted of dowry death under Section 304B IPC for the death of Fulwa Devi, who disappeared from her matrimonial home within months of marriage after dowry demands. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Ram Sahay Mahto based on circumstantial evidence: the deceased had complained of harassment and dowry demands, disappeared under unexplained circumstances, and was later found dead in a river. The Court applied the statutory presumption under Section 113B of the Indian Evidence Act. However, the Court allowed Parvati Devi's appeal, finding only omnibus allegations against her without specific evidence linking her directly to the crime, and discharged her from custody.
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