Kollam, First Published May 24, 2022, 12:29 AM IST
Kollam: The court will today sentence Kiran Kumar, a convicted husband in the Vismaya case, for committing suicide following dowry harassment. The court had yesterday found Kiran guilty in the case. The court ruled that Kiran had committed crimes punishable by up to seven years to life in prison. The sentencing hearing will begin at 11 am in the Kollam Additional District Sessions Court. The court is expected to announce the verdict by noon. The prosecution wants Kiran to be sentenced to life imprisonment. Defendant contends that the sentence should be commuted on the basis of age.
The Kollam District Additional Sessions Court yesterday ruled that all the major charges against Vismaya’s husband Kiran, including dowry torture and incitement to suicide, stand. The court had said that five of the seven charges against Kiran Kumar by the police would stand. The court upheld sections 304 (b) of IPC, 498 (a) of domestic violence, sections 306 of IPC against incitement to suicide and sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. Only sections 506 and 323 of the IPC were rejected. Kiran Kumar’s bail was canceled by the court after he was found guilty. He was later transferred to jail. The investigating officer responded that the court ruling was an endorsement of the investigation conducted through scientific means.
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Defendant Kiran Kumar and Vismaya’s father Trivikraman Nair were present in the court to hear the verdict. Vismaya’s mother Sajitha came to know about the verdict through TV. The verdict came less than a year after Vismaya’s death. The court proceedings were speedy in the case which touched the conscience of the community. According to the prosecution case, Kiran’s husband, who was also a motor vehicle department official, committed suicide as he could not bear the torture inflicted on him for dowry.
On June 21, 2021, BAMS student Vismaya was found dead in her husband’s house. There were 42 witnesses in the case. Kollam Additional Sessions Court Judge KN Sujith delivered the verdict yesterday after examining 120 documents and 12 bribes. Defendant tried to prove in court that the case was fabricated and that Vismaya had committed suicide because of problems with his own father. Meanwhile, Vismaya’s voice conversation about her husband’s harassment at home came out. The phone conversation with his father Trivikraman Nair was submitted to the court by the prosecution as important evidence.
Minister Veena George said the court verdict was comforting
Many dignitaries in the political and cultural arena of Kerala welcomed the verdict yesterday. Minister Veena George said the court’s finding that Kiran Kumar was guilty in the Vismaya case was comforting. It will strengthen the fight to end the evil practice of dowry. The Minister said that the activities of the probe team and the prosecution, which carried out the antiquated investigation and confirmed the sentence, deserve special mention.
Case in point: Equality needs to be raised, some still keep women away: Governor
Governor Arif Mohammad Khan’s response was that it was not important that the accused be convicted in the Vismaya case. It is unfortunate that such a situation has arisen. Awareness about equality is very important in Kerala society. “Women are equally important,” he said.
The verdict in the Vismaya case will be a strong warning to the dowry seekers: The Women’s Commission shared hope
At the same time, the chairperson of the Kerala Women’s Commission, Adv. P Satidevi said. Sathi Devi hoped that the court would issue a verdict in the Vismaya case as desired by the Kerala community.
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Last Updated May 24, 2022, 12:29 AM IST