Husband, aunt get lifer in dowry death case

Kaithal, Dec 6 (UNI) A local court today sentenced a man and his aunt to life imprisonment and stapped a fine of Rs 50000 each on them in a dowry death case.

The Additional Session Judge Dr Neelima Shangla held Dhan Singh, the husband of the victim Sangeeta and his aunt Sunita guilty under section 304-B read with section 34.

According to prosecution, Sangeeta, a resident of Panchkula was married to accused Dhan Singh a local resident. However, the accused Dhan Singh and Sunita started harassing Sangeeta for bringing insufficient dowry and on May 26, 2003 both the accused put kerosene on the victim and set her afire. She died in a Chandigarh hospital a few days later.

Based on the victim's statement, police registered a case and arrested the accused. The judge, after hearing arguments of prosecution and defence held the accused guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment and fine of Rs 50000.

The court had ordered that amount of fine recovered be paid to family of victim and if the accused failed to pay the fine they will further under go imprisonment for three years.

UNI