Dowry death
Chapter 5: Offences against woman and child
(1) Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called “dowry death”, and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death.
Explanation.— For the purposes of this sub-section, “dowry” shall have the same meaning as in section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
(2) Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023). As printed in the Gazette on 25 December 2023. Later amendments, if any, are not included.
Related sections
- 81Cohabitation caused by man deceitfully inducing belief of lawful marriageIPC 493
- 82Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wifeIPC 494
- 83Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriageIPC 496
- 84Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married womanIPC 498
- 85Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to crueltyIPC 498A
- 86Cruelty definedIPC 498A