Delhi HC rejects husband’s bail plea in dowry death case

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has dismissed the bail application of a man accused in a dowry death case, observing that the gravity of the offence and material on record did not warrant his release at this stage.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Girish Kathpalia rejected the regular bail plea filed by the accused, Md. Shahnawaz, in connection with an FIR registered at Nabi Karim police station under Sections 304B, 498A, 201, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Subsequently, the offence under Section 302 IPC was also added based on the post-mortem report.

According to the prosecution, the case was registered on the complaint of the deceased’s brother, who alleged that his sister died by suicide due to dowry harassment.

Following further information, the body of the deceased was exhumed and sent for post-mortem examination. The post-mortem report indicated the presence of ante mortem injuries caused by blunt force, raising suspicion of physical assault prior to death, leading to the addition of the charge of murder.