In Brief
Chhaya, sister-in-law of a deceased woman who sustained fatal burn injuries, was convicted by the lower courts based on the victim's dying declaration and allegations of dowry-related cruelty. On appeal, the Supreme Court allowed her appeal and acquitted her. The Court found that although named in the dying declaration, there was credible medical evidence (an undisputed hospital record) proving she was hospitalized for surgery on the date of the incident, creating a successful alibi. Further, the oral evidence against her consisted only of vague and cryptic allegations with no specific details of dowry demands or harassment, falling short of the required standard of proof in criminal cases.
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