The Supreme Court acquits husband after 26 years in a dowry and cruelty case, warning that Section 498A IPC is being “cruelly misused” to harass husbands and their families without real proof.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has Acquits Husband accused of cruelty and dowry harassment in a 26-year-old criminal case, raising serious concern over the growing misuse of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 in matrimonial disputes.
The Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma gave this ruling while hearing the appeal filed by Rajesh Chaddha against his conviction under Section 498A IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.
The Court said that many such cases are being filed with vague, general, and unsupported allegations — often dragging in every relative of the husband.
Court’s Concern on Misuse
The Supreme Court noted that the term “cruelty,” which is meant to protect women, is now itself being misused. The judges observed:
“The term ‘cruelty’ is subject to rather cruel misuse by the parties, and cannot be established simpliciter without specific instances, to say the least.”
The Bench stressed that any complaint under Section 498A IPC must have clear, specific, and proven allegations — supported by evidence such as dates, times, and instances of cruelty or harassment.
The Court warned that vague or sweeping claims should not be accepted. It said:
“… the allegations cannot be ambiguous or made in thin air … This growing tendency to append every relative of the husband, casts serious doubt on the veracity of the allegations made by the complainant wife or her family members, and vitiates the very objective of a protective legislation.”
“We are distressed…” — Supreme Court’s strong words
The judges expressed deep concern about how dowry and cruelty laws are being misused to settle personal scores. The Court said:
“We are distressed with the manner, the offences under Section 498A IPC, and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 are being maliciously roped in… “
Further elaborating, the Bench observed:
“We are distressed with the manner, the offences under Section 498A IPC, and Sections 3 & 4 of the D.P. Act, 1961 are being maliciously roped in by Complainant wives, insofar as aged parents, distant relatives, married sisters living separately, are arrayed as accused, in matrimonial matters. This growing tendency to append every relative of the husband, casts serious doubt on the veracity of the allegations made by the Complainant wife or her family members, and vitiates the very objective of a protective legislation.”
Case Background
The case began in 1999, when the wife of Rajesh Chaddha filed an FIR alleging mental and physical cruelty, dowry harassment, and even miscarriage due to physical assault.
After trial, the Trial Court convicted him under Section 498A IPC (two years imprisonment) and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act (one year imprisonment).
The Allahabad High Court upheld the conviction in 2018.
The accused then appealed to the Supreme Court.
Findings of the Supreme Court
After reviewing all records, the Supreme Court found no specific or credible evidence against the accused.
The complainant did not produce medical reports to prove the alleged miscarriage or any independent witness to support the claims of cruelty.
The Court also noted that the husband and wife had lived together for only 12 days after their marriage in 1997, and that the FIR was filed only after the husband filed for divorce — showing the possibility of a retaliatory motive.
Key Observations
The Supreme Court held that:
- Emotional distress or fights alone do not amount to cruelty under Section 498A.
- Proof beyond reasonable doubt is required in criminal law.
- Sweeping and vague allegations cannot lead to conviction.
The Court cited its earlier decision in Dara Lakshmi Narayana & Ors. v. State of Telangana & Anr., where it had ruled that “sweeping allegations against extended family members, without specific acts of cruelty, cannot form the basis of prosecution.”
The Bench concluded that the evidence presented failed to meet the legal standard required for conviction.
Therefore, the Court acquitted the appellant of all charges on May 13, 2025.
Final Message from the Bench
Through this ruling, the Supreme Court once again reminded that while laws like Section 498A IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act are meant to protect women from genuine cruelty and harassment, their misuse harms both men and women — and weakens faith in the justice system.
EXPLANATORY TABLE: Laws and Sections Mentioned
| Section / Act | Full Description | Purpose | Punishment / Legal Effect | Supreme Court Observation in this Case |
| Section 498A, Indian Penal Code (IPC) | Husband or his relatives subjecting a woman to cruelty | To protect married women from cruelty or harassment by husband/family | Imprisonment up to 3 years + fine | Misused as a tool of harassment — vague allegations without evidence cannot sustain conviction |
| Section 3, Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 | Penalty for giving or taking dowry | To stop the exchange of dowry at marriage | Minimum 5 years imprisonment + fine (₹15,000 or equal to dowry amount) | Courts must ensure genuine cases; misuse vitiates the protective intent |
| Section 4, Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 | Penalty for demanding dowry | To punish those who demand dowry from bride or family | Imprisonment 6 months–2 years + fine up to ₹10,000 | False allegations under this section harm credibility of real victims |
| Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) | Governs arrest, investigation, and trial in criminal cases | To ensure fair process | Procedural | FIRs filed after matrimonial disputes and divorce petitions must be carefully scrutinized |
| Evidence Act, 1872 (implicit) | Requires proof beyond reasonable doubt in criminal trials | To maintain justice and prevent wrongful conviction | — | Court stressed lack of medical and independent evidence makes conviction unsustainable |
Case Summary
| Field | Details |
| Case Title | Rajesh Chaddha vs. State of Uttar Pradesh |
| Citation / Year | Criminal Appeal No. ___ of 2025 (Arising from Allahabad High Court judgment dated 2018) |
| Court | Supreme Court of India |
| Date of Judgment | May 13, 2025 |
| Bench | Hon’ble Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Hon’ble Justice Satish Chandra Sharma |
| Appellant (Accused) | Rajesh Chaddha |
| Respondent | State of Uttar Pradesh |
| Prosecution Counsel | State Counsel / Public Prosecutor (U.P. Government) |
| Defence Counsel | Advocate appearing for Rajesh Chaddha (Name not recorded in the summary but referenced in arguments) |
| Trial Court | Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Uttar Pradesh |
| High Court | Allahabad High Court (2018 judgment upheld conviction before appeal) |
| Relevant Acts / Sections | Section 498A IPC; Sections 3 & 4 Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 |
| Verdict | Conviction set aside; Appellant acquitted of all charges |
| Key Observation | “The term ‘cruelty’ is subject to rather cruel misuse…” – Supreme Court |
| Judgment Type | Acquittal based on lack of evidence and vague, omnibus allegations |
| Duration of Case | Approximately 26 years (FIR in 1999 → Judgment in 2025) |
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the Indian courts and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of “ShoneeKapoor.com” or its affiliates. This article is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content provided is not legal advice, and viewers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Viewer discretion is advise.