The Supreme Court overturned a bail order granted by the Allahabad High Court to a man accused in a dowry death case, criticizing it as “shocking and disappointing.” The deceased woman’s father appealed the decision, leading to the directive for the accused, the deceased woman’s husband, to surrender immediately. The case, registered in Uttar Pradesh’s Shrawasti district, involved allegations under various legal sections related to dowry.
The prosecution stated that the 22-year-old woman, married in March 2025, died under suspicious circumstances within three months of her marriage. The father’s FIR accused the husband and his family of demanding additional dowry despite receiving cash and other items during the wedding. Allegations of physical and mental harassment were made, with the woman found dead with neck injuries. The post-mortem report cited “asphyxia due to strangulation” as the cause of death.
Expressing strong disapproval of the High Court’s decision, the Supreme Court criticized the bail grant for not considering the seriousness of the crime. The apex court highlighted the need to assess various factors like the crime’s nature, punishment laws, the marital relationship, and post-mortem findings. Emphasizing the importance of justice, the court directed the accused to surrender for judicial custody pending trial.
The Supreme Court clarified that its directive did not imply any judgment on the case’s merits, as the trial is ongoing. It instructed the trial court to expedite proceedings and determine the accused’s innocence or guilt based on the trial evidence. Additionally, the court ordered the top court registry to forward the decision to the Allahabad High Court’s Registrar General for further action.
