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Lifer for dowry death accused in Orissa

In first of case of its kind, a man was sentenced to life imprisonment for torturing his wife to death for more dowry, in Orissa.

Utsav Rout was convicted under section 498 and 304 of the Indian Penal Code and section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Justice M C Ray, additional sessions judge of Jajpur, on Wednesday sentenced Rout to life imprisonment for torturing his wife to death allegedly for more dowry.

Jusice Ray observed while delivering his judgement that evidence clearly indicated that Utsav Rout, after failing to get additional dowry, killed his wife in anger.

Besides Utsav, his father and four brothers have been sentenced to two years' imprisonment each for being accomplices to the crime.

Sources close to Utsav's in-laws' family said that Rukumini Rout was married to Utsav Rout of Jajpur in 1996. However, since then, her in-laws who allegedly demanded more dowry subjected Rukumini to constant physical and mental torture.

Failing to get the same, Rukumini was killed and her body was, apparently, dumped in a paddy field on the outskirts of Jajpur. Villagers discovered it on January 23,1998, and informed the local police.

Utsav's father and brothers did not inform either the police or the parents of the deceased about the crime.

The verdict, a rare one in the state's judicial history, assumes significance in view of its social implications. Legal experts in Bhubaneswar feel that the life sentence, in a case of dowry death, would certainly be an eye opener for those torturing women for dowry.

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