Four get lifer in 2004 dowry case

Kolhapur, Oct 11 (UNI) A local court today sentenced four persons, including two brothers and their parents, to ten and five years' imprisonment respectively in the 2004 dowry case.

District Court Judge S D Gokhale found Dhondiram Patil (23), his brother Prakash (21) and their parents Vithu Bhima Patil (62) and Banubai (60), all residents of village Kasaba Tarle in Radhanagari tehsil of the district, guilty and sentenced them to imprisonment.

Prosecution said Dhondiram had married Sangeeta over two-and-a-half years ago. He and his parents used to demand Rs 50,000 from her as dowry. However, as she could not fulfil their monetary demand, they frequently tortured Sangeeta.

On October nine, 2004, Dhondiram and Prakash beat up Sangeeta, when she was pregnant. Frustrated over regular beating and mental torture, Sangeeta set herself afire by pouring kerosene on herself in which she died on the spot.

A total of nine persons stood as witnesses in the case, he added.

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