Kannada Actress Abhinaya Sentenced to 2 Years in Jail for Dowry Harassment
The Karnataka High Court has sentenced Kannada actress Abhinaya, her mother, and her brother for dowry harassment, a case dating back to 2002. Initially registered in Bengaluru under Section 498A, the trial court had convicted all accused in 2010. However, a fast-track court acquitted them two years later. The state then appealed to the high court.
Justice H B Prabhakara Sastry confirmed the two-year simple imprisonment for Abhinaya and her brother Cheluvaraj. Abhinaya’s mother, Jayamma, received a five-year sentence under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, upgraded from an initial six-month sentence by the trial court.
The case began when Abhinaya’s brother, Srinivas, married Lakshmidevi in March 1998. Lakshmidevi alleged that Srinivas’ family demanded Rs 80,000 and gold ornaments as dowry before marriage. Post-marriage, they pressured her for an additional Rs 1 lakh, leading to cruelty and ill-treatment.
On January 5, 2010, the trial court convicted Srinivas, Ramakrishna, Jayamma, Abhinaya, and Cheluvaraj under IPC Section 498A and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. Abhinaya and Cheluvaraj received two-year sentences, while Jayamma’s sentence was increased to five years by the high court.
The state appealed to a fast-track sessions court for higher punishment, while the accused sought acquittal. On March 9, 2012, the fast-track court acquitted all accused. The state and the complainant then challenged this acquittal in the high court. During the appeal process, Srinivas and Ramakrishna passed away.
The high court noted that six of the nine witnesses consistently testified about the dowry demands and harassment. The court emphasized that the minimum punishment under Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act must be applied in this case, leading to the sentences upheld today.
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