New Delhi, The Delhi High Court has expressed displeasure over an eight-month delay in registering an FIR by Delhi Police in a dowry death case. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma made the observations while denying anticipatory bail to the husband and in-laws in a dowry death case of a 25-year-old woman within six months of marriage.
The judge remarked that the registration of the FIR in this case took more time than the entire duration of her marriage and it was an unfortunate reality that the deceased's father was made to run from pillar to post before the FIR was registered.
The court hoped that in future, applications seeking directions for registration of FIR in cases of unnatural death of young women shortly after the wedding shall be taken up with greater urgency by magisterial courts, especially when there are allegations of dowry-related harassment.
The husband informed the deceased's father on July 2, 2025, that his daughter was in a hospital after she fell from stairs. However, upon reaching the hospital, the father suspected foul play.
It was subsequently found that the deceased died by suicide after she hung herself in the matrimonial home. While the deceased succumbed to her injuries on July 3, 2025, the FIR was registered on February 13 pursuant to the directions of a magisterial court.
