Women often exaggerate domestic violence charges as dowry case to pressure husbands and in-laws: Gujarat HC

The Gujarat High Court has observed that in cases of domestic violence and cruelty filed by women, the petitioners often exaggerate the charges on the lines of dowry allegations to make the case "graver" against their husbands and in-laws, said a TOI report. The court said that these allegations are often used as pressure tactics against the accused and his family.

The court noted that this has been observed by the Supreme Court as well and the tendency to rope in all relatives of the husband in such cases has become more prevalent.

"If one of them happens to be of a higher status or vulnerable standing, he or she becomes easy prey for better bargaining and blackmailing," said Justice D A Joshi, according to the TOI report.


Justice Joshi made these observations while quashing an FIR filed in 2019 by a woman accusing her husband and in-laws of cruelty under IPC Sec 498A, along with assault, abuse, and criminal intimidation. She had also invoked provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act and subsequently filed a complaint under the Domestic Violence Act in court.

The accused approached the Gujarat High Court seeking to quash the FIR, asserting that the allegations him were untrue. The court observed that the marriage between the accused and the petitioner took place in January 2018. In June 2019, the wife left her marital home and subsequently filed the FIR and a case under the Domestic Violence Act. She later agreed to quash the FIR and resumed living with her husband at her marital home. However, she later returned to her parental home, voluntarily leaving her marital residence once more.