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Munni Devi v. State of Uttar Pradesh

Not available · 2026 INSC 136Decided 29 Jan 2026
Not available
Justice J.K. Maheshwari · Justice Atul S. Chandurkar

Background

A pregnant woman died by suicide within a year of marriage; her mother-in-law was convicted of dowry death and causing an unborn child's death, though she had already been acquitted of cruelty and specific dowry-demand charges.

Decision Breakdown

The Supreme Court held a 304-B conviction requires proof the accused specifically subjected the woman to cruelty tied to a dowry demand: general, collective family allegations aren't enough. With no individualized evidence against the mother-in-law (who wasn't even present at the death), and given her earlier acquittal on cruelty, the conviction could not stand.

Lesson Learnt

Courts cannot convict a family member in a dowry-death case merely because a demand was made in the household: specific, individualized evidence of cruelty by that person is required.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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