Supreme Court cautions against over-implication of in-laws in 498A cases
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued a warning to state prosecution and the judiciary, urging caution to prevent the “over-implication” of in-laws in domestic harassment cases under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The directive was delivered in a recent judgment by a Bench comprising Justices C.T. Ravikumar and Sanjay Kumar.
The warning came during the hearing of an appeal by a man, the brother-in-law of the victim, who was charged with harassment despite a lack of concrete evidence linking him to the alleged offence. The incident dates back to April 2011, and the appellant had married into the family just five months before the victim’s death.
The case began when the woman’s father lodged a complaint with Maharashtra Police, alleging that his daughter was subjected to mental and physical torture by her husband and in-laws to extort ₹5 lakh for purchasing a flat. The victim’s body was discovered with ligature marks and abrasions, leading to suspicions of foul play.
Despite the man’s claim of innocence, both the session’s court and the Bombay High Court dismissed his appeal, asserting his involvement. In the Supreme Court, the appellant argued that he had minimal interaction with the deceased and had no opportunity to harass her.
Justice Ravikumar, writing for the Bench, emphasized the prevalence of exaggerated complaints in such cases, stating, “Exaggerated versions of the incident are common, and over-implication is frequently observed.” The court underscored the need for judicial prudence in distinguishing genuine cases from those involving baseless allegations, to prevent unjust suffering.
The judgment further criticized the lower courts for delivering a “perverse” finding of guilt against the appellant, noting the complete lack of evidence connecting him to the offence.“The appellant has suffered ignominy and legal consequences without any material evidence against him,” the Bench observed, setting aside the conviction.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
