Chennai: A Mahila court here has sentenced an autorickshaw driver to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years and also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000, for abetting his wife’s suicide.
According to Additional Public Prosecutor, Gowri Asokan, auto driver, Abbas, married Fathima on May 3, 2006. For the wedding, her family members gave him Rs 15,000 and 1 and 3/4 sovereigns of gold jewels and other household articles as dowry.
Fathima was living with her husband Abbas and father-in-law Muthu Mohammed, in a house at Venkateswara Nagar, Kodungaiyur. Since the wedding, Abbas had been continuously harassing his wife for more dowry. Besides asking for more jewels and cash from Fathima’s elder brother, he also demanded a new auto rickshaw and a new cellphone.
Due to the mental torture and harassment, on February 22, 2007, at about 6 pm, Fathima set herself ablaze. She was rushed to hospital, but she died the next day.
Fathima died within nine months of their marriage. Assistant Commissioner of Police, MKB Nagar Range, filed a chargesheet before the court. Mahila Court judge R.N. Manjula, said that marital cruelty is a serious offence. Abbas did not allow Fathima to lead a peaceful life.
The judge said the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, and sentenced Abbas to undergo RI for two years. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000.
