Mysore/Mysuru: The City’s Fifth Additional District and Sessions Court on Tuesday sentenced two persons, including the husband of a deceased woman, to life imprisonment after holding them guilty of dowry harassment that drove the woman to suicide.

The deceased is Tejamani, and those convicted are her husband, N. Naveen Kumar, and Rani.

According to the prosecution, Tejamani married Naveen Kumar in 2017. At the time of the marriage, following demands allegedly made by Rani, the bride’s family gave 60 grams of gold and other articles as dowry, besides spending about Rs. 8 lakh on the wedding.

However, within a few months of the marriage, Naveen Kumar and Rani began demanding an additional Rs. 10 lakh from Tejamani’s parents and also insisted that she hand over her monthly salary to them.

The prosecution said Tejamani was subjected to mental and physical harassment, denied food on several occasions, and even driven out of the matrimonial home.

Though elders from both families attempted to mediate, the harassment reportedly continued, forcing Tejamani to return to her parents’ house.

On August 7, 2018, Naveen Kumar and Rani allegedly went to her parental home, abused Tejamani and her parents for not meeting their dowry demands, and threatened to arrange a second marriage for Naveen Kumar if Rs. 10 lakh was not paid within two days. Naveen Kumar also allegedly assaulted Tejamani during the altercation.

Traumatised by the incident, Tejamani consumed an excessive quantity of Amlodipine tablets later that evening. She was admitted to a private hospital in Mysuru, where she died on Aug. 21, 2018.

Following the investigation, the then Assistant Commissioner of Police, Narasimharaja Sub-Division, C. Gopal, filed a charge sheet before the Court.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Fifth Additional District and Sessions Court Judge K.N. Roopa held Naveen Kumar and Rani guilty of dowry harassment leading to Tejamani’s death and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The Court also imposed a fine of Rs. 2 lakh on each of the convicts. The prosecution was conducted by then Public Prosecutor B.E. Yogeshwara.