Delhi court sentences husband, mother-in-law in Komal dowry death case

Komal was 29 and about two-and-a-half months pregnant when she died at her matrimonial home on June 3, 2021. A Delhi court has sentenced her husband, Nitesh, and his mother to 12 years’ rigorous imprisonment for dowry death.

Additional Sessions Judge Priya Mahendra also sentenced both to three years in prison for subjecting Komal to cruelty. The sentences will run concurrently. The court recorded that Komal married Nitesh on March 15, 2021 and conceived within a month.

In its August 10 order, the court held that continued harassment, cruelty and dowry demands had driven Komal to end her life. It said the offence was aggravated because it resulted in the deaths of Komal and her unborn child.

Nitesh was fined ₹30,000 for dowry death and ₹5,000 for cruelty. His mother was fined ₹20,000 and ₹5,000 respectively. The court directed that the recovered amounts be paid to Komal’s legal heirs as compensation.