Ex-govt officer gets 10-yr jail for wife’s suicide over dowry

THE VICTIM’S MOTHER SAID SHE WAS UNHAPPY WITH VERDICT AND WAS EXPECTING THAT HE WILL GET LIFE TERM

KOLLAM (KERALA): A Kerala court on Tuesday sentenced to 10 years in jail the husband of Vismaya, an Ayurveda medical student who hanged herself in her marital home in June last year, for dowry death.

Additional district and sessions Judge-1 Sujith K N also sentenced S Kiran Kumar to six years and two years imprisonment for the offences of abetment to suicide and dowry harrasment under the IPC, Special Public Prosecutor ( SPP) G Mohanraj told reporters.

Kumar was also sentenced to six years for the offence of taking dowry and one year for demanding dowry under the Dowry Prohibition Act. The court said the sentences would run concurrently, the SPP told reporters after the sentence was pronounced.

A total fine of ₹ 12,55,000 was also imposed on Kumar, he said that out of that ₹2 lakh has been directed to be paid to the parents of the victim.

The SPP said he was satisfied with the sentence awarded to the convict. However, the victim’s mother, who appeared disheartened, said she was not happy with the outcome as she had expected the convict would get life term. Addressing media at her residence, she said the family would appeal against the sentencing and that she does not believe her daughter got justice. She also said that they would be continuing their efforts for action against the others who were allegedly responsible for

Vismaya’s suicide. Vismaya’s father, on the other hand, told reporters outside the court that he was happy with the punishment given to Kumar. He said he as well as his daughter have got justice and that the punishment was also a message to society.

He also said he had not expected that life term would be given to Kumar.Whether to appeal or not would be decided after discussing it with the SPP. The court order came after hearing arguments on behalf of the prosecution and the convict on the quantum of sentence.

SPP G Mohanraj, in his arguments, sought the maximum possible punishment for the convict so that it acts as a deterrent in society.

Kumar, who was an assistant motor vehicle inspector, was dismissed from service after his arrest and state transport minister Antony Raju on Monday had said there will be no change in that irrespective of whether the court convicts him or not.