Patna High Court Upholds Ten-Year Sentence in Dowry Death Case

Court Affirms Conviction of Md. Hasib for Dowry Death Under Section 304B of IPC, Dismissing Appeal

In a significant ruling, the Patna High Court has upheld the conviction and ten-year rigorous imprisonment sentence of Md. Hasib, who was charged with dowry death under Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code. The case was overseen by Justice Alok Kumar Pandey, who delivered the judgment on November 12, 2025.

The tragic case revolves around the death of Hasib's wife, which occurred within five years of their marriage. The prosecution successfully established that the death was linked to repeated dowry demands, including a motorcycle and cash amounting to Rs. 2,50,000. The victim's father, the informant in the case, recounted these demands and the subsequent harassment faced by his daughter, which led to her unnatural death.

Key evidence in the trial included testimonies from family members and the postmortem report, which indicated injuries consistent with assault by a hard and blunt object. The court noted the presumption under Section 113B of the Indian Evidence Act, which supports the conviction in dowry death cases when certain conditions are met, such as the death occurring within seven years of marriage and being linked to dowry harassment.

Despite the defense's claims of false implication and an alternative theory of suicide, the court found the prosecution's evidence compelling. The court emphasized the seriousness of the crime and the need for adequate punishment to deter such offenses and uphold societal confidence in the justice system.

The appeal by Md. Hasib was dismissed, with the court affirming the trial court's judgment, considering the evidence of cruelty and dowry demands leading to the death. The judgment underscores the legal framework's stringent stance on dowry-related offenses, aiming to address and mitigate the pervasive issue of dowry deaths.

Bottom Line:

Dowry Death - Conviction under Section 304B IPC - Presumption under Section 113(B) of Evidence Act - Death within five years of marriage, unnatural, and connected with dowry demand - Sentence of ten years rigorous imprisonment upheld.

Statutory provision(s):  

• - Indian Penal Code, Section 304B (Dowry Death)
• - Indian Evidence Act, Section 113B (Presumption as to dowry death)
• - Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 313 (Power to examine the accused)

MD. Hasib v. State of Bihar, (Patna) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2816125