Bombay High Court: Asking Wife to Bring Money Without Specific Proof Is Not Harassment
The Bombay High Court has ruled that merely telling a wife she cannot live with her husband if she fails to bring money from her parents’ home does not automatically amount to mental or physical harassment.
A division bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Rohit Joshi observed that in the case before them, the wife had filed vague allegations against her husband and in-laws. She claimed that they demanded ₹5 lakh from her parents so that her husband could secure a government job. However, she admitted that her parents could not afford the money.
The Court noted that the wife’s First Information Report (FIR) lacked clear details, such as specific dates or the period during which such demands were allegedly made. The judges said that the allegations were general and did not show any concrete evidence of cruelty or harassment.
The bench also criticized the manner of police investigation in such cases, pointing out that many witness statements were repetitive and lacked substance. It emphasized that investigating officers must use discretion and file charge sheets only against those for whom strong evidence exists. Naming and implicating distant relatives without proof amounts to unnecessary harassment, the Court added.
In this case, the FIR had named not only the husband but also his parents, brother, married sister, her husband, and even a cousin. The Court found this excessive and quashed the FIR, noting that false implication must be avoided.
Case Title: MM vs State of Maharashtra
Be a part our social media community:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndianMan.in?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/indianman.in?igsh=MWZ2N3N0ZmpwM3l3cw==
