Chennai, September 20: The final hug she gave you before she died does not indicate you were not at fault, declared the Chengalpet Mahila Court on September 7, ordering the husband to serve ten years in prison for dowry harassment. According to authorities, in December 2011, S Sadaq Vali, a computer engineer living in Kottivakkam on Chennai's East Coast Road (ECR), pushed his wife G Safura Begum to get Rs 30 lakh and gold from her family as dowry. In addition, Vali's relatives had insulted her for her physical appearance and forced her to have a cosmetic dental operation, according to investigating authorities.

The woman who set herself on fire and proceeded to a neighbouring private hospital in an autorickshaw was transferred to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (KMCH) for treatment. She saw her husband before she died and gave him one final embrace before crying her heart out, which the husband's lawyer presented as a defence in the trial. Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Man Assaults Woman With Axe Over Dowry Dispute in Ghaziabad, Horrifying Video Surfaces Online.

They contended that the episode demonstrated that Begum did not despise her husband and that he was not the cause of her suicide. Vali's attorney also claimed that Begum died as a result of a cooking cylinder (LPG gas) leak.  However, Judge S Ezhilarasi commented that it does not demonstrate the girl's devotion and that in her final moments, she may have sobbed because she was unable to live the life she had imagined. Hyderabad Shocker: Harassed for Dowry, Woman With Her Twins Jumps to Death From Eighth Floor of Building, Husband Booked. 

In addition, based on the evidence presented by the KMCH doctor, the court judged the spouse guilty. The wife, who sustained 95% burn damage, informed the doctor that she immolated herself with paraffin. The matter was also corroborated in court by the revenue official who investigated it. Begum's brother had also protested about the participation of Vali's parents and sister, but the prosecution was unable to establish it. As a result, they were acquitted.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 20, 2023 11:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).