The Supreme Court has ruled to dismiss criminal charges against the parents-in-law and sister-in-law of a woman in a dowry harassment and bigamy case. The Court emphasized that vague and general accusations without specific acts are insufficient for prosecution under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code. The decision overturned a Kerala High Court ruling that had declined to halt proceedings stemming from a 2016 FIR filed in Thiruvananthapuram.
The apex court highlighted that while detailed allegations were made against the husband for physical assault, dowry demands, and mental cruelty, the accusations against his relatives were primarily based on their mere “presence” or alleged “encouragement” and lacked specific actions. It stressed the importance of clear and specific allegations for criminal prosecution and warned against implicating all family members in marital disputes without concrete evidence.
Examining the FIR and charge sheet, the Supreme Court found no specific instances of cruelty, demand, or assault attributed to the parents-in-law on any identifiable occasion. Similarly, the sole accusation against the sister-in-law was that she received money for a flat purchase, which did not amount to cruelty under Section 498A IPC. Regarding the charge of bigamy under Section 494 IPC, the Court held that liability could not be extended to relatives without evidence of their active involvement in the second marriage.
The case originated from a 2016 FIR where a woman alleged prolonged dowry harassment and physical abuse by her husband, who she claimed had entered into a second marriage while still married to her. Following an investigation and the filing of a charge sheet, trial proceedings commenced. The accused family members sought to quash the case at the Kerala High Court, but their plea was rejected in November 2024. The Supreme Court’s decision to quash the proceedings against the relatives was based on preventing an abuse of the legal process, while clarifying that the case against the husband would proceed as per the law.
