The Delhi High Court (DHC) while hearing a bail application filed by the accused arraigned for the offence of dowry death under Section 304B IPC noted that “For invoking the offence under Section 304B IPC, not only the harassment or cruelty should be soon before death but it should be related to demand of dowry. The expression “soon before death” is a relative expression.” DHC noted that prosecution evidence failed to prove any demand of dowry to be the instigation factor for wife to commit suicide. Further, DHC observed that allegations of extra-marital affair and habit of betting cannot be considered as ground for implicating offence Section 304B IPC.
