Hyderabad man gets life, mother 7 years’ RI for dowry harassment | Hyderabad News
HYDERABAD: A 35-year-old man, K. Anand Kumar, and his mother, Bharatamma, 52, were sentenced to prison on Friday for harassing Anand’s wife, Lavanya, over additional dowry demands, which led to her suicide.
Lavanya died by suicide within three months of her marriage, unable to bear the physical and mental abuse. A case was registered at Chaitanyapuri in 2017 following her death.
Y. Sathyendra, III Additional District & Sessions Judge, Ranga Reddy District, sentenced Anand to rigorous life imprisonment and Bharatamma to seven years of rigorous imprisonment. The court, however, did not impose a fine, as they had already paid four lakh rupees as compensation to Lavanya’s parents.
According to the police, Anand and Lavanya married in August 2015. During the wedding, Lavanya’s family provided cash, gold jewellery, a bike, household items, and an open plot in the city. A day after the marriage, Anand’s mother and family demanded an additional two lakh rupees, but Lavanya’s parents pleaded for more time.
Later, when Lavanya became pregnant, her parents visited her, but Anand and his family insulted them and refused to let them meet her. They also forced Lavanya to undergo an abortion, a police official said.
As the abuse worsened, Lavanya died by suicide, leading to a case being registered against Anand, his mother, and five other family members.
During the trial, the court examined statements from Lavanya’s parents, who detailed the harassment from the time of the marriage. Neighbours also testified to witnessing Anand and his family assaulting Lavanya on the night before her death.
Panch witnesses to the crime scene examination and the accused’s confession further strengthened the case, resulting in the court finding Anand and Bharatamma guilty, said a Rachakonda police official. However, due to a lack of evidence, the court acquitted the other family members accused in the crime.
