AP High Court Quashes Dowry Cruelty Charges Against Sisters-in-law for Lack of Evidence

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has quashed charges under Section 498A IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act against two married sisters-in-law for taunting their brother's wife, observing that mere taunting for not conceiving does not amount to cruelty.

The court held that vague allegations without specific details or evidence are insufficient for prosecution, particularly when the accused resided separately from the complainant couple.

The Court noted a growing misuse of Section 498A to implicate distant or unconnected relatives without specific evidence.

Accordingly, proceedings against the sisters were quashed while those against the parents continued. The Court partly allowed the criminal petition.