Anissia Batra – Is it an instance of false dowry allegation?

New Delhi : The Hon’ble High Court granted bail to the in-laws of Anissia Batra on 20 November 2018. While passing the order granting bail said that considering the facts of the case and that in the detailed narration of the deceased to her lawyer the allegations against the petitioners are not of demand of dowry, the fact that the charge sheet and supplementary chargesheet have already been filed against the petitioners and they have been subject to custodial interrogation, directed that they be released on bail.

In the bail order, it is observed that in the very own words and language of Anissia to her lawyer, “there was no allegation of demand of dowry, much less any demand of Rs 1.2 crores received from the sale of Vasant Kunj flat, although admittedly the flat had already been sold prior to the time the email was written in June 2018.”

As per the order of the High Court, “selective whatsapp messages are being relied upon by the prosecution and therefore they cannot be relied upon this stage, prior to receiving the entire transcript of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).”

“Allegations of Anissia to her lawyer against her in-laws is only of instigation and not primarily of demand of dowry,” the order stated.

Sources present in the court during the hearing said that it appeared that the dowry allegation was slapped by the Batras as an afterthought to strengthen their feeble case.

The Batras alleged that the Singhvis demanded a dowry of INR 10 lacs. The counsels representing the Singhvis informed the Honorable High court that:

The Singhvi’s stay in a self-owned house in Panchsheel Park

Since July 2017, Anissia and Mayank were staying in a separate house, also owned by the Singhvi’s.

In addition Mayank was giving Anissia a monthly allowance of INR 30-35000

Not a single rupee from the sale of Anissia’s apartment in Vasant Kunj was credited to Mayank or the Singhvi’s account. The entire proceeds admittedly went to Anissia Batra’s parents, mainly her mother Mrs. Nillum Batra

Mayank also showered Anissia with expensive gifts like a BMW, a diamond ring worth INR 16 lacs amongst other expensive gifts.

A close friend of the couple said that Mayank (41) and Anissia (39) had met through common friends 3.5 years ago, and it was a love marriage and there was no question of any dowry exchange.

This case once again raises question about false dowry cases being raised by girl’s families in India and lop-sided laws in favor of women. Some legal experts reckon that a stringent punishment should be meted out to persons making false allegations, so as to serve as a deterrent.