Mysore/Mysuru: City’s 5th Additional District and Sessions Court has sentenced four persons including the husband of the deceased woman to nine years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 25,000 fine after they were found guilty of harassing the woman for dowry and also for abetting suicide.

Those who were convicted are G. Siddaraju, his mother Jayamma, sisters Suma and Ishwarya of Tumbunerale village in Nanjangud taluk while the deceased woman is Pushpamala alias Mala of Tayur village in Nanjangud taluk.

Basavanayaka, a resident of Tayur village, had given his daughter Mala in marriage to G. Siddaraju on May 30, 2012 during which he had given Rs. 1 lakh as dowry and Rs. 1 lakh for marriage expenses.

After the marriage, Siddaraju and his family members began to harass Mala mentally and physically for dowry and also began to taunt her by saying that her family members did not give anything and it would have been better if they had got Siddaraju married to some other girl, whose family may have given more dowry. Though a meeting (Panchayti) by village elders was held, Mala’s husband Siddaraju and his family members continued to harass and torture Mala.

In 2014, Basavanayaka brought Mala to his home on account of Gowri festival and on Nov. 4, 2014, Mala committed suicide by hanging self at her parents’ house. A case was registered at Badanavalu Police Station. The then Nanjangud Sub-Division Dy.SP Nikam Prakash Amrut, who investigated the case, had submitted the charge-sheet to the Court.

Judge Mallikarjun, who took up the case, heard the arguments from both sides, found Siddaraju, Jayamma, Suma and Ishwarya guilty and sentenced them to nine years rigorous imprisonment besides imposing a fine of Rs. 25,000 on each one them. Out of the total fine amount, the Court has ordered Rs. 70,000 be paid to Mala’s father Basavanayaka.

Public Prosecutor Nagappa C. Naakaman, argued on behalf of the Government.