In Brief
A woman died from self-inflicted burn injuries following allegations that her husband and in-laws demanded dowry. Although originally charged with dowry death (Section 304B IPC), the trial court convicted the appellant brother-in-law of abetting suicide under Section 306 IPC. The High Court affirmed the conviction. The Supreme Court held that without cogent evidence of cruelty, harassment, or active abetment, the court cannot invoke Section 113A of the Evidence Act to presume abetment. Since the evidence against the brother-in-law was practically non-existent, the conviction was set aside and he was discharged from bail.
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