Kerala police book father of prime accused in woman medico dowry case

PTI

Thiruvananthapuram, December 9

Police have arraigned the father of Ruwais, a postgraduate doctor accused of abetting the suicide of a woman medico early this week, in a dowry case after finding his alleged involvement. 

He was arraigned under sections of the Dowry Prohibition Act and the Indian Penal Code, medical college police here said.

“He was made a co-accused under similar sections imposed against Ruwais. We are yet to take him into custody,” a police officer said.

Ruwais, the victim Shahana’s fiance, was arrested two days ago and sent to judicial custody.

Earlier, the mother and brother of the victim had given statements against Ruwais’s father and accused him of demanding an exorbitant dowry.

According to the police, Shahana was depressed over the hefty dowry demanded by Ruwais and his father. Her depression was aggravated after they backed out from the marriage proposal over not getting the dowry.

Sources said Ruwais’s father wasn’t present at his house in Karunagappally when a police team went there to record his statement on Friday.

Shahana was a student in the ortho department of the government medical college here. She was found unconscious in her apartment and later declared brought dead at the hospital on Tuesday.

People from various walks of life, including Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly VD Satheesan, expressed shock over the incident and condemned the practice of dowry.

According to the police remand report, Ruwais and his father had demanded one and a half kilos of gold and acres of land as dowry from Shahana’s relatives.

The depression caused due to continuous mental harassment and pressure exerted by Ruwais for the exorbitant dowry, which her family was unable to provide, had prompted Shahana to end her life, police had said.

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