Jamshedpur Court Acquits Dowry Death Case Accused Over Lack of Evidence

Jamshedpur: A local court has acquitted Sonu Kushwaha of dowry death charges, citing insufficient circumstantial evidence to support the prosecution’s claims.

The case involved the death of Sushma Kushwaha, who died under suspicious circumstances on September 4, 2021—just nine months after her December 2020 marriage. Her father, Raj Narayan Kushwaha, originally alleged that the husband and in-laws continuously harassed his daughter over dowry demands. Following his complaint, the Sonari Police registered an FIR on September 5, 2021.

Trial Inconsistencies

During the trial in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Manju Kumari, several critical inconsistencies weakened the prosecution’s case:

• Alibi Confirmed: During cross-examination, the complainant admitted that his son-in-law was in Delhi at the time of the incident.

• Lack of Eyewitnesses: The father conceded that he did not personally witness anyone administering poison to his daughter.

• Credibility Issues: The court observed that another individual, Munna Tiwari, drafted the FIR. The complainant signed the document without full knowledge of its contents, which raised significant questions regarding the initial allegations.

The Verdict

The court held that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt due to a lack of direct evidence and weak circumstantial links. Consequently, the judge acquitted the accused.

Defense Team: Advocates Sudhir Kumar Pappu, Shiv Shankar Prasad, and Babita Jain represented Sonu Kushwaha.