Noida’s woman ‘dowry’ death: Absconding husband’s bail plea junked

Bhopal: A sessions court in Bhopal on Monday rejected the bail application of the husband of a 31-year-old Noida woman, who allegedly died by suicide at her matrimonial home at Bhopal’s Katara Hills on May 12. The judge, Pallavi Dwivedi, who had granted anticipatory bail to mother of the husband, a retired district judge herself, on Saturday denied bail to husband of the deceased, upholding contention of the prosecution that his custodial interrogation is a must and being a lawyer, he may tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses, if he is given bail.

Meanwhile, police have announced a reward of Rs 10,000 on information leading to arrest of the accused lawyer.

The prosecution lawyers refuted the arguments of the defence counsel that the deceased suffered from anxiety, depression and psychological disorder and that’s why she took her life and said even if they were right, it should be found out why a bright and joyful girl, who had acted in a film, participated in beauty pageants and was Miss Pune, developed depression, anxiety and psychological disorder within five months of her marriage. “It must have been because of torture,” said the lawyer.

Prosecution lawyer Ankur Pandey, while talking to TOI after the court order, said that we also pleaded with the court that under section 80(2) of the BNS relating to dowry death, which the accused is facing, the sentence could be from 7 years of imprisonment to life term and there is a presumption clause in such offences which provides that the accused would be presumed guilty unless he proves otherwise.

The prosecution also raised a question mark on why the police were informed late about the incident and only after the body reached the AIIMS that the police came to know about it.

The police also moved a separate application in the court opposing the anticipatory bail saying that the accused knows law and he comes from an influential family, therefore, he should not be let off on bail lest he tampers with the evidence.