Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has ordered that the investigation into a 2023 dowry-related death case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing serious shortcomings in the original police probe conducted in Thane district.
The decision came after the court reviewed a petition filed by the victim’s father, who alleged that the investigation carried out by Kashimira police was inadequate and lacked seriousness. The bench observed that the handling of the case reflected multiple inconsistencies that required a more independent and detailed inquiry.
According to the court order issued on April 16, the judges noted that the investigation records and the chargesheet contained significant discrepancies, raising doubts over the fairness and completeness of the police work. The court emphasized that such gaps could not be ignored in a case involving allegations of dowry harassment and unnatural death.
The case relates to the death of a woman who had been married in late 2021 and began living with her husband and in-laws in 2022. Her family later alleged that she was subjected to repeated harassment over dowry demands and had also suffered physical abuse, which they claimed contributed to her deteriorating condition.
The petitioner further stated that his daughter was found dead in February 2023, with initial reports suggesting suicide. However, the family alleged visible injury marks on her body and raised suspicions of foul play, prompting them to approach the police.
Concerns were also raised regarding the initial response of the police, with allegations that the FIR was registered reluctantly and that appropriate charges were not applied at the outset. While some members of the husband’s family were arrested initially, they were later released on bail, and the main accused reportedly absconded.
The High Court also took note of medical findings from the postmortem examination, where the doctor stated that she was unable to conclusively determine whether the death was suicide or homicide, citing limitations in forensic expertise. The medical officer had also recommended further forensic evaluation, which was not pursued by the investigating agency, according to the court record.
Observing these gaps, the bench directed that all case-related documents be immediately transferred from Kashimira police to the CBI. The court stated that an independent investigation was necessary to ensure fairness and credibility in the case proceedings.
The CBI has now been tasked with conducting a fresh and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
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