Balasore: Special Judge OPID and Additional Sessions Judge Biswajit Das sentenced a man to life imprisonment for killing his wife over dowry.
The judge also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on the convict. Failure to pay the penalty would result in an additional year in prison, the judge said in the order.
According to the prosecution, the convict Tapas Pradhan from Nuagaon village under Industrial police station had married Sarojini Mohanty from Probadhpur village under Basudevpur police station in Bhadrak.
A few months after marriage, the woman died while undergoing treatment for burn injuries in a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. Her father Purna Chandra Mohanty lodged an FIR with police March 10, 2021 alleging that her daughter was burnt to death by the accused son-in–law Tapas.
In his complaint Purna Chandra alleged that kerosene was poured on his daughter and she was put on fire after which Tapas locked the door from outside. Purna Chandra also mentioned that since his daughter could not fulfil the incessant demands for dowry she was murdered.
The tragic incident took place on the night of February 21, 2021. The neighbours hearing the victim’s screams broke open the door and took her to the hospital. However, she succumbed to her injuries.
“The accused Pradhan was tried under 498(A), 302 of IPC and 4 DP Act. The court after examining 14 witnesses and 20 exhibits sentenced him to life imprisonment along with Rs5,000 fine,” Special Public Prosecutor, Pranab Panda said.
PNN
