Now, bride and kin in dock for dowry

NEW DELHI: In the first such order in the capital, a trial court has
asked the police to register an FIR against six members of a family,
including
the bride, for giving dowry to the groom's family.

There was trouble between Sunil and Latika (both names changed) just a
year after they got married on January 31, 2004. Latika left for her
maternal home on August 4, 2005 and filed a dowry harassment case
against Sunil and his family with ACP, anti-dowry cell. She alleged
that her family spent more than Rs 10 lakh on the marriage, and gave
Rs 2 lakh in cash for a car and another Rs 1.15 lakh as dowry. A case
was registered against Sunil and his family under Section 498(A), 406
and 34 of the IPC.

But Sunil also went to court, seeking registration of an FIR against
the girl and her family for fulfilling his dowry demands.

Citing the dowry prohibition Act which has a provision for punishment
for giving dowry, Sunil moved court in August 2008, seeking action
against his wife and in-laws under Section 156(3) CrPC as the police
was refusing to register the FIR against the girl's family for giving
dowry.

In the petition filed through his counsel Pradeep Nawani, he asked
that an FIR be registered against the girl and her family under
Section 3 of Dowry Prohibition Act, which is punishable upto five
years in jail with fine not less than Rs 15,000 or the amount of the
value of such dowry, whichever is more.

Counsel Nawani also relied on a high court judgment which stated that
the police should simultaneously register an FIR against the girl and
her family for giving dowry.

Metropolitan Magistrate Neeraj Gaur observed that giving dowry was a
cognisable offence and directed the station house officer (SHO) of
Model Town police station to register an FIR.

The court also asked the SHO to set an investigation into motion
against Latika and five other members of her family.

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4626182.cms