Vismaya case: Kerala court convicts husband for dowry death, abetting suicide
Kollam(PTI): A Kerala court on Monday convicted the husband of Vismaya, an Ayurveda medical student who hanged herself in her marital home in June last year, for dowry death and abetting her suicide.
Additional District and Sessions Judge-1 Sujith K N also convicted the husband for the offence of dowry related harassment under the IPC and various provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) G Mohanraj told reporters outside the court.
The SPP said that the court is expected to pronounce the sentence on Tuesday after hearing arguments on behalf of the prosecution and the convict.
He said that the prosecution would be seeking the maximum possible punishment for the convict -- S Kiran Kumar. The offence of dowry death under section 304B of IPC carries a minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
The offences of dowry harassment under Section 498A of IPC and abetment to suicide under Section 306 of IPC carry a maximum punishment of three years and 10 years jail term, respectively.
Vismaya's father spoke to reporters outside the court and said that his daughter has got justice.
He said he did not have words to express his gratitude for the efforts of the prosecution and the investigating team.
Prior to leaving for the court, he had told reporters at his residence that the government appointed a very good investigating team to probe the case and a very good prosecutor.
Just before the verdict was delivered, state Transport Minister Antony Raju told reporters that irrespective of the court's decision in the criminal case, there will be no change in the state government's decision to dismiss Kumar from service.
Kumar was an assistant motor vehicle inspector. The court had on May 17 reserved its verdict in the case.
Kerala Police in its 500-page charge sheet had said that Vismaya committed suicide due to dowry harassment.
Vismaya, 22, was found dead in the house of her husband at Sasthamkotta in Kollam district on June 21, 2021.
A day before the incident, Vismaya had sent WhatsApp messages to her relatives over the alleged harassment by Kumar over dowry, as well as photos of wounds and marks of beatings on her body.
Her father had told a TV channel that 100 sovereigns of gold (one sovereign is equal to 8 grams gold) and over one acre land, besides a car worth Rs 10 lakh was given as dowry to Kumar during the wedding in 2020.
But Kumar did not like the car and wanted Rs 10 lakh in cash. As he was told it was not possible, he used to torture her, the father had said.
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Thief 'armed' with pistol steals cash from brewery in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 12 (PTI): A thief carrying a pistol, broke into a brewery in north Bengaluru and stole cash, police said on Monday.
The incident occurred at the Geometry Brewery and Kitchen on the Gayatri Nagar road under the Subramanyanagar Police station limits here between 3.30 am and 4 am.
According to police, the suspect gained entry through the back door and stole around Rs 50,000 to 60,000 in cash.
"The watchman complained that a thief had entered with a weapon, and on noticing him he shut the door and alerted the police at 4:30-5 am. On police verification the thief was not inside but the CCTV cameras were switched off. Maybe a person had come for robbery and prima facie it appears that there was a theft. Based on the FIR, further investigation will be done," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Saidulu Adavath said.
Addressing reporters here, he quoted the security guard as saying that the burglar was carrying a weapon, which needs to be ascertained.
"It is true that a thief broke in, but he was carrying a pistol in his hand is not confirmed. The watchman had seen the suspect from a distance, he was wearing a mask. His statement about a thief carrying a weapon may be his misconception. It will be investigated," he added.
The entire building was searched and the thief was not found. The police suspect that he might have escaped through the bathroom or kitchen at night.
The brewery was closed by 1.30 am, and the thief is said to have entered through the emergency gate from behind, while the watchman was at the front. Upon hearing some noise, he went inside and saw the thief.
The watchman does not how and when the thief exited, they said.
The DCP said that only one person had come and the cash counter was found broken open.
"Based on the complaint, we will file a FIR and investigate it," he said.
In #Bengaluru: Cops cordoned off the area around Geometry Brewery & Kitchen in Subramanyanagar after info that a person armed with a small weapon had entered the premises in the early hours, search is on. (Burglary suspected) pic.twitter.com/9VD04uEag9
— TOI Bengaluru (@TOIBengaluru) May 12, 2025
