False Dowry Case Filed by Daughter-in-Law Against Mother-in-Law Is Abuse of Court Process: Karnataka High Court
The Karnataka High Court, under Justice K.S. Mudagal, criticized a daughter-in-law for filing a false dowry case against her mother-in-law. The court quashed the FIR lodged against the mother-in-law, deeming it an abuse of legal procedures.
The case involved a criminal writ petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), seeking to nullify the FIR and chargesheet against the petitioner (mother-in-law) and her son. The charges were filed under Sections 498A and 114 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
After reviewing the evidence, the court found that the mother-in-law did not live with her son and daughter-in-law, making it improbable for her to harass the complainant. Additionally, the daughter-in-law’s claim that cash and gold were given at the time of marriage was insufficient to prove that the mother-in-law demanded dowry.
The court also noted that the case was filed in Davanagere Women Police Station, even though the petitioner lived in a remote area in Andhra Pradesh. This raised questions about the complainant’s choice of jurisdiction.
Declaring the case an abuse of the legal system, the court emphasized that continuing such proceedings would undermine justice. The mother-in-law’s petition was granted, and all charges against her were dismissed.
Case Title: Puttalakshmi v. State of Karnataka
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