DOWRY RELATED CRIMES IN INDIA: A CRIMINAL LAW ANALYSIS UNDER THE  BHARITYA NYAYA SANHITA (BNS)

AUTHOR – S.ISHANA ELIZABETH* & MR. V. MAHALINGAM**

* STUDENT AT SCHOOL OF LAW, S.R.M. UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI, INDIA

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT SCHOOL OF LAW, S.R.M. UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI, INDIA

BEST CITATION – S.ISHANA ELIZABETH & MR. V. MAHALINGAM, DOWRY RELATED CRIMES IN INDIA: A CRIMINAL LAW ANALYSIS UNDER THE  BHARITYA NYAYA SANHITA (BNS), INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (12) OF 2025, PG. 910-914, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344

ABSTRACT

Dowry-related crimes continue to be a deep-rooted social and legal issue in India, reflecting the complex intersection of patriarchal customs and legal enforcement. Despite the existence of targeted legislation such as the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and specific provisions in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Sections 498A and 304B, dowry-related violence and deaths remain alarmingly prevalent. With the recent introduction of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023—replacing the IPC—this article revisits the criminal law response to dowry crimes in contemporary India.

The paper explores the evolution of anti-dowry legislation and assesses how effectively these laws have been implemented. It includes an analysis of high profile cases such as State of Tamil Nadu v. Satheeswar & Ors. (Preeti Dowry Death Case, 2025) and State of Tamil Nadu v. Kavinkumar & Ors. (Rithanya Dowry Death Case, 2025). It also addresses critical issues such as the misuse of Section 498A, challenges in evidence collection, delays in prosecution, and the socio-legal impact on victims and their families.