Man gets life term for setting wife ablaze over dowry

Agra: A local court in Mainpuri district sentenced a 30-year-old man to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the convict after finding him guilty of setting his 24-year-old wife ablaze over dowry. According to additional district government counsel (ADGC) Vishwajeet Rathore, the victim, Jyoti (first name available) from Nagla Shish locality, got married to Raghvendra Singh alias Ravi, a resident of Gahiyarpur village, on Nov 16, 2018.
A year later, he and his family members started harassing her for additional dowry, including cash and a motorcycle. When the dowry demand was not met, the man brutally assaulted Jyoti, poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze on Jan 28, 2019. She died two days later while undergoing treatment at Saifai Medical College in Etawah. Based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s uncle, Sarju, an FIR was registered under IPC section 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 304B (dowry death), 302 (murder) and the Dowry Prohibition Act at Kurawali police station against Ravi, his father Kuldeep Singh and mother Kanta Devi.
The accused was arrested soon after the FIR was filed. His bail applications were rejected multiple times by the district and Allahabad high court (HC). On Friday, he was brought from jail to attend the court proceedings. Witnesses, including the plaintiff, investigator and doctor testified against the husband in court. “The victim’s dying declaration against her husband played a crucial role in conviction. She did not mention role of his in-laws in the crime. Considering the evidence, court sentenced Ravi to life term,” ADGC said.