Actress Abhinaya, family members convicted in dowry harassment case

S Shyam Prasad | NT

Bengaluru: Sandalwood actress Abhinaya and her family members have been found guilty and convicted for harassment of her sister-in-law. The actress has been handed a sentence of two years imprisonment by the High Court.

The original complaint was filed by one Lakshmidevi the wife of Srinivas aka Vasu, the brother of Abhinaya. The other accused in the case are Ramakrishna, the father of Abhinaya, Jayamma, her mother; and Cheluvaraj, her brother.

Lakshmidevi accused her husband Srinivas and his family members, including Abhinaya of harassing her for dowry. The trial court convicted the five on January 5, 2010, for offences punishable under 498A (cruelty towards a married woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

This was challenged by them in a Sessions Court which, by its order on March 9, 2012, set aside the judgment and acquitted all five. An appeal was filed by the state and Lakshmidevi before the High Court. The HC heard these appeals and gave its judgment on December 5. The HC set aside the order of the Session Court and upheld the conviction given by the trial court.

During the pendency of the case, Srinivas and Ramakrishna died. The HC, in its judgement, found Jayamma, Cheluva and Abhinaya guilty under Section 498A of the IPC. Jayamma was additionally found guilty under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

While the three are sentenced to imprisonment for two years under Section 498A of the IPC, Jayamma additionally will undergo a sentence of five years under Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, the HC said. Srinivas and Lakshmidevi were married on March 23, 1998.

A few months later, Lakshmidevi was sent back to her parents’ house to get an additional dowry. She delivered a baby boy in the meantime, and her husband’s family members did not even visit her. A panchayat was also held between family members, which did not help. She filed a complaint on November 9, 2002, a day after her father and her husband failed to negotiate a deal.

The HC, while upholding the appeal, said, “The evidence led by the prosecution after its careful scrutiny establishes the guilt against the accused. As such, the accused who were initially convicted by the trial court, though were acquitted by the Sessions Judge’s Court and being the accused in a criminal case also had a presumption of innocence, as such, doubly benefiting the presumption of innocence, still, the evidence led by the prosecution proves the alleged guilt against them.”