In Brief
A woman named Nasrin died of severe burn injuries one day after her husband Ajmal and mother-in-law Jamila repeatedly demanded dowry (a colour TV, motorcycle, and Rs. 15,000). She had visited her parents many times complaining of harassment related to these demands and was threatened with death if they were not met. The Trial Court convicted both accused under dowry death and cruelty laws. The High Court acquitted them, doubting witness credibility and reasoning the accused were too poor to make such demands. The Supreme Court allowed the State's appeal, holding that consistent evidence of dowry demands, threats, and the death the next day established dowry death under law. Minor witness inconsistencies do not outweigh core evidence; statutory presumptions apply once harassment is proven. The Court reinstated convictions and life imprisonment for Ajmal; Jamila's imprisonment was waived due to her advanced age (94 years).
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