Supreme court held that one should discourage the tendency to rope in all relations in dowry cases.

For the fault of the husband, the in-laws or the other relations cannot, in all cases, be held to be involved in the demand of dowry. In cases where such accusations are made, the overt acts attributed to persons other than husband are required to be proved beyond reasonable doubt. By mere conjectures and implications such relations cannot be held guilty for the offence relating to dowry deaths. A tendency has, however, developed for roping in all relations of the in-laws of the deceased wives in the matters of dowry deaths which, if not discouraged, is likely to affect the case of the prosecution even against the real culprits. In their over enthusiasm and anxiety to seek conviction for maximum people, the parents of the deceased have been found to be making efforts for involving other relations which ultimately weaken the case of the prosecution even against the real accused as appears to have happened in the instant case.

Citations: [2000 JT SC 5 223], [2000 ACR SC 2 1263], [2000 SCC CRI 0 935], [2000 EASTCRIC 2 698], [2000 RCR CRIMINALINAL 2 695], [2000 SCC CR 0 935], [2000 RCR CRI 2 696], [2000 SCC 5 207], [2000 RCR CRI 2 695], [2000 CCR 2 156], [2000 AIR SC 2324 1], [2000 PLJR 3 68], [2000 ALLMR CRI 0 1180], [2000 MLJ CRI 1 844], [2000 RCR CRIMINAL 2 695], [2000 SLT 4 162], [2002 CLJ 0 2993], [2000 SCR 3 662], [2000 ACC 41 3], [2000 ALD CRI 2 467], [2002 SCC 5 207], [2000 CRI LJ 2993], [2000 LW CRL 2 660], [2000 JIC 2 353], [2000 AIR SC 0 2093], [2000 SRJ 10 330], [2000 ALD CRL 2 467], [2000 SCALE 3 429], [2000 KERLT 2 42], [2000 CRLLJ 2993], [2000 CRLJ 0 2993], [2000 RENTCR 2 695], [2000 AIR SC 2324], [2002 RCR CRIMINAL 2 695], [2000 JCRIC 2 665], [2000 DMC SC 1 645], [2000 SCC 5 2007], [2000 SUPREME 3 554], [2000 CRIMES 2 213]

Other Source links: https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1263837/

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