Crime Against Parents-in-law over vague dowry allegations, The Supreme Court of India has quashed criminal proceedings against a woman’s parents-in-law, reiterating that family members cannot be prosecuted in matrimonial disputes unless there are clear, specific allegations showing their active involvements.
The Court was hearing an appeal against a Telangana High Court order which had refused to quash proceedings against the mother-in-law and father-in-law, instead asking them to seek discharge before the trail court.
The criminal case arose from a complaint filed by the wife alleging cruelty and dowry demands, based on which an FIR was registered under Sections 498A, 323 and 504 IPC along with section 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Examining the FIR and charge sheet, the Supreme Court noted that the allegations crime against the parents-in-law were vague and omnibus. There were no specific instances, dates, or acts attributed to them showing that they had demanded dowry or subjected the complainant to physical or mental cruelty.
The Bench observed that merely naming relatives in a matrimonial complaint, without particularised accusations, is not sufficient to sustain criminal prosecution. Criminal Case Against Parents-in-law over vague dowry allegations
Relying on its earlier ruling in Dara Lakshmi Narayana v. Start of Telangana (2024), the Court cautioned against the common tendency to rope in all members of the husband’s family during marital disputes. It held that such sweeping allegations, unsupported by concrete material, must be “nipped in the bud” to prevent abuse of the criminal process.
Finding that even a plain reading of the allegations did not disclose any prima facie offence on crime against the parents-in-law, the supreme court set aside the High Court’s order and quashed the criminal proceedings against them. The appeal was allowed, bringing relief to the appellants while clarifying once against that criminal law cannot be used indiscriminately in matrimonial conflicts.
Therefore Criminal Case Against Parents-in-law over vague dowry allegations has been quashed by Supreme court stating that family members cannot be prosecuted in matrimonial disputes unless there are clear, specific allegations showing their active involvements.
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