Mysuru: City’s Fifth Additional District and Sessions Court has sentenced three persons including the husband of the deceased woman to three years rigorous imprisonment after they were found guilty of dowry harassment leading to the death of the woman. While the deceased woman is Sunitha, those sentenced to jail are Sunitha’s husband H.R. Manju, a resident of Hittanahalli village in Periyapatna taluk and her in-laws Rajappa and Shivamma.

Sunitha, daughter of Erappaji of Naralapura village was given in marriage to Manju on March 16, 2020. At the time of marriage, Manju was given Rs. 3.50 lakh cash and 167 grams gold jewellery and silver articles as dowry.

After about six months of marriage, Manju and his parents began to harass Sunitha to bring Rs. 6 lakh from her parents for house renovation, following which village elders held a meeting and Sunitha’s parents had agreed to fulfil the demand next year.

But as Manju and his parents continued to harass Sunitha, she doused herself with kerosene and set ablaze on Feb. 14, 2021. Though Sunitha was rushed to the hospital with severe burns, she died in the afternoon on the same day. The Police, who had registered a case, conducted investigation and had submitted a charge sheet to the Court.

Fifth Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Gururaj Somakkalavar, heard the arguments from both sides, found Manju and his parents guilty of the crime and sentenced them to three years rigorous imprisonment, besides imposing a fine of Rs. 5,000 each. Public Prosecutor B.E. Yogeshwar argued on behalf of the Government.