Vismaya's husband Kiran Kumar convicted in dowry death case

A district court in Kerala's Kollam district found a man guilty of harassment and abetment of suicide of his wife in a dowry death case that rocked the state last year.

Vismaya, 24, was found dead at her husband's house on June 21 last year.

Her husband, S Kiran Kumar, was found guilty of dowry harassment under section 304-B of Indian Penal Code, abetment of suicide under section 306 of IPC and domestic violence under 498A. The Kollam additional district session court that found him guilty will pronounce the sentence on Tuesday.

The prosecution's case was that Vismaya was subjected to harassment by Kumar demanding more dowry and stating that the car presented during marriage was not costly enough.

Vismaya, who was an Ayurveda degree student, and Kumar got married on May 30, 2020. One acre land, gold ornaments weighing over 100 sovereigns and a luxury car were reportedly given as gift by her parents during the marriage. Within weeks after the marriage, Vismaya told her parents about the harassment she was suffering from Kumar. Some audio and text messages she sent became crucial evidence in the case.

Kumar, who was serving as an assistant motor vehicles inspector, was suspended from service and steps to terminate him were also being initiated.

The death of Vismaya had triggered a strong protest in Kerala against dowry and domestic violence. The state had also witnessed another brutal incident of a 25 year old differently abled woman Uthara being killed by her husband Sooraj by inflicting snake bite at Anchal in Kollam in May 2020. The intention was to get possession of her gold and other wealth gifted by her parents during marriage.

Following these incidents, there was a strong call for stringent measures to curb dowry. Kerala Women's Commission had even proposed a legislation to make declarations regarding gifts received by brides and bridegrooms at the time of marriage mandatory for registration of marriage. But those were still remaining on papers only.