Delhi moves to save men from fake dowry cases

Courtesy: CNN-IBN



Delhi moves to save men from fake dowry cases
Jemima Rohekar / CNN-IBN
Published on Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 02:09, Updated at Tue, Jun 24, 2008 in Nation section

A FAIR TRIAL: This is being done to avoid increasing misuse of the anti-dowry law.

New Delhi: The Delhi government is following in Hyderabad’s footsteps with regard to arrests and probe in dowry cases.

This essentially means those accused of dowry harassment will be arrested only after a thorough probe.

The Delhi police chief says it has been done so as to avoid increasing misuse of the anti-dowry law, a trend acknowledged even by the apex court.

According to data available with support organisations, of the five lakh people arrested from 2003- 2006 in dowry-related offences, 80 per cent were acquitted by courts.

A computer professional – who spoke with CNN-IBN on conditions of anonymity – said he and his family were victimised by his wife in a fake dowry harassment case. While he spent three days in jail, he was lucky the police didn't arrest his family members, all of who had been named in the FIR.

Support groups like Rakshak were formed especially to help those men who have been wrongfully implicated under laws for the protection of women.

According to information received by them through various RTIs:
Till 2006, more than six lakh people were still facing trial for past cases.
More than five lakh were awaiting a trial in court.
The expected length of trial in dowry cases was almost eight years in the same year.
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See an NDTV program mentioning about the Delhi Police curcular which insists that investigation has to be done before arrests(after sanction from ACP/DCP) and the links to circulars issued in Delhi and Hyderabad