The High Court, upholding the life term awarded to a policeman over the death of his wife, has sentenced his mother and brother to five-year imprisonment each in the case.

A Division Bench of Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice A R Joshi recently passed the sentences on Sandesh Dagdu More, Sunanda Dagdu More and Sanjay Dagdu More, for harassing Reshma, wife of Sandesh, and causing her death.

According to the prosecution, Sandesh had married Reshma in 1999 and they had a daughter. The couple lived in a joint family at Ratnagiri. The family later shifted to Thane. Within months of the marriage, Reshma’s husband and in-laws started harassing her, at times beating her, for dowry, according to the prosecution case.

On several occasions, Reshma had stayed at her parents’ house for days after the quarrels. Her family had also approached a non-governmental association, “Strimukti Sanghatana” and made various representations to the in-laws for an amicable settlement.   But the harassment continued and on April 19, 2001, kerosene was poured on her and she was set on fire, according to the prosecution case. Before her death in a hospital, she had given varying dying declarations. On admission to the hospital she had stated she suffered injuries due to an accident. On the day of her death, April 22, 2001, she held her husband and in-laws responsible.

During trial in a sessions court, the prosecution examined six witnesses and based on their testimony and corroborative evidence, convicted the accused. Reshma’s in-laws had then appealed in the High Court.

... contd.