VILLUPURAM: The Villupuram Fast Track Mahila Court on Thursday sentenced a 30-year-old to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for abetting suicide. His 26-year-old wife had killed herself following dowry harassment three years ago. The man, who also got an additional three years for dowry harassment, was also slapped with a fine of `15,000.
According to the prosecution, Syed Inaythulla (30), a painter, hailed from E N Palayam village. He married S Alma (26), of Mettu Street near Elavanzoorkottai in 2009. Back then, Alma’s parent had borne all the expenses of the marriage and had given 10 sovereigns gold and `15,000 as dowry.
Inayathulla turned out to be an alcoholic and within months began shirking work. He had also mortgaged Alma’s jewellery by then. Things became worse when he began harassing Alma, asking her to bring more money from her parents. Inayathulla’s family turned a blind eye to her suffering and his mother Thagirnisha was said to have sided with her son in harassing Alma.
When this began to get out of hand, Alma lodged a complaint against her husband, mother-in-law and four others at the Ulundurpet all women police station.
The panicked family then made peace at the police station and Inaythulla, who promised to turn a new leaf and take care of his wife, took her back home. Within two months, the torture returned and Alma hung herself on September, 2014.
Based on a complaint from Alma’s parents, the Ulundurpet AWPS booked as many as six people, including Inaythulla and Thagirnisha. The verdict of the case, which was being heard by the Villupuram Fast Track Mahila court, was on Thursday.
Magistrate Juliet Pushpa sentenced Inaythulla to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for abetting suicide and a concurrent 3 years for dowry torture.
He was also slapped with fines of `10,000 and `5,000 for the same charges. The other five accused were acquitted.