Mere Demand For Dowry Not An Offense U/S 498A IPC: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court ruled that merely demanding dowry does not constitute an offense under Section 498A IPC, and vague allegations of intimidation do not amount to harassment.

A wife filed an FIR in 2019 against her husband, his parents, and other relatives, alleging dowry demands and intimidation. The husband’s relatives sought to quash the FIR, arguing they were not immediate family members, never lived with the wife, and had no reason to demand dowry.

The Court found the FIR lacked supporting material, the relatives were not aggressors, and litigants often implicate entire families.

Consequently, the FIR was quashed.