Husband gets 10-year jail in Kerala dowry death case

The court on Monday had found Kiran Kumar, who had been an additional vehicle inspector with the State Motor Vehicle Department, guilty of dowry death of his wife Vismaya V Nair, an ayurvedic medical student.

The court had found Kumar guilty under sections 304-B (dowry death), 306 (abetment to suicide) and 498-A (wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide) of the IPC.

Kumar was sentenced to 10-year jail under Section 304-B, six years under Section 306, and two years under Section 498-A. All the sentences would run concurrently. Of the fine imposed on the convict, Rs 2 lakh have to be paid to the parents of Vismaya.

Vismaya’s family said they will move an appeal, seeking life imprisonment for Kumar.

Vismaya was found dead at Kumar’s house in Kollam under mysterious circumstances on June 21, 2021. Following the incident, Kumar was dismissed from service.

The couple got married in May 2020 and Kumar was allegedly unhappy with the dowry Vismaya brought along that included a new car costing Rs 11 lakh, 1.25 acres of land and 100 sovereigns of gold. Kumar had allegedly been harassing Vismaya, saying he deserved better [dowry].

The case led to a campaign against dowry and Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan held a day-long fast at Raj Bhavan as part of it. He even instructed the universities in Kerala to ask students to give an undertaking that they would not seek or give dowry. He wanted that if the students are later found violating this and if a court indicts them, the university should cancel their degrees.

The prosecution had demanded life imprisonment for the accused.