Allahabad High Court quashes fake dowry case under Section 498A, ruling that dragging entire families into false allegations is abuse of law, giving relief to husband’s relatives.
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UTTAR PRADESH: The Allahabad High Court has quashed all criminal proceedings against the parents, sister, and brother of a man accused in a dowry harassment case. The Court found that the allegations made by the wife were vague, general, and lacked specific details, amounting to nothing more than harassment.
The case was filed by the wife of Anand Sharma, who had implicated her husband and his entire family under Sections 498A, 323, 315, 504, 506 of IPC and Section 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. While the husband continues to face trial, the Court ruled in favor of quashing the charges against his relatives.
Court’s Observations
Justice Prashant Kumar observed that dragging every family member into matrimonial disputes has become a common and unhealthy trend, often aimed at exerting undue pressure on the husband. The Court noted:
- The FIR did not contain specific incidents or any credible evidence against the in-laws.
- General and omnibus allegations cannot form the basis of a criminal trial.
- Compelling family members to face trial without clear evidence amounts to abuse of the justice system.
ALSO READ: 498A (Cruelty Law) Being Misused For Personal Vendetta Against Husband: Supreme Court
The Court cited several important Supreme Court judgments to support its reasoning:
- Geeta Mehrotra v. State of U.P. (2012): held that vague allegations against in-laws in matrimonial disputes cannot stand in law.
- Kahkashan Kausar v. State of Bihar (2022): emphasized that omnibus allegations against relatives are not sufficient for prosecution.
- Neelu Chopra v. Bharti (2009): clarified that simply naming relatives without specifying their role in the alleged offence is not enough to prosecute.
The Court reaffirmed that the law cannot be misused as a tool of revenge in marital conflicts.
While the proceedings against the husband (Anand Sharma) will continue, the High Court quashed the case against his father, mother, sister, and brother, ensuring they do not have to suffer a trial without substantive evidence.
Appearance:
Counsel for Applicant: Prateek Rai, Vishal Sunder S. Sharma
Counsel for Opposite Party: Anubhav Sinha, Vidit Narayan Mishra
Case Title:
Anand Sharma & 4 Ors Versus State of U.P. and Another
APPLICATION U/S 482 No. – 30408 of 2014
READ ORDER HERE
READ MORE REPORTS ON SECTION 498A
