The Supreme Court of India affirmed conviction in the dowry death case of Punita against her husband.
CASE SUMMARY – In Virender Pal @ Vipin vs State of Haryana, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the appellant under Section 304-B IPC for dowry death. The deceased, Punita, died under unnatural circumstances within 15 months of marriage after continuous dowry-related harassment.Supreme Court upholds conviction in dowry death case of Virender Pal. Despite defence claims of suicide due to medical issues, evidence including witness testimonies and post-mortem reports confirmed her abuse. The Court found no merit in the appeal, emphasized the role of the accused in demanding dowry, and directed him to surrender within four weeks. The judgment reiterates the importance of accountability in dowry-related matrimonial abuse cases.
SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS CONVICTION IN DOWRY DEATH CASE OF VIRENDER PAL
| ASPECTS | DETAILS |
| Case Title | Virender Pal @ Vipin vs State of Haryana |
| Introduction | Appeal against conviction under Section 304-B IPC for dowry death, confirmed by High Court, now before Supreme Court. |
| Factual Background | Punita, wife of the appellant, died 1 year 3 months after marriage due to continuous harassment for dowry. FIR lodged, trial held, appellant convicted. |
| Legal Issues | Whether the presumption under Section 113-B of the Indian Evidence Act was correctly applied and whether the conviction under Section 304-B IPC was sustainable. |
| Applicable Law |
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| Analysis | The Supreme Court found credible prosecution evidence proving dowry harassment. Defence’s claim of accidental fall or suicide due to knee pain found baseless and inconsistent. |
| Conclusion | Conviction upheld, appeal dismissed. Appellant directed to surrender and serve remaining sentence. |
| Current Scenario | As of May 15, 2025, the Supreme Court has upheld the conviction; the appellant must surrender within 4 weeks to serve his sentence. |
“All the ingredients required to prove the offence punishable under Section 304-B of the IPC are made out from the evidence.”
SOURCE – SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
READ ALSO – DOWRY DEATH (SECTION 304B)
