Vismaya Nair Dowry Death: Husband Kiran Kumar Found Guilty

Vismaya Nair dowry death case took a new turn after her husband Kiran Kumar was found guilty of her death. He was convicted today, less than a year of her death. A message which Nair had sent before her death has shaken the people following the case. In June 2021, she wrote to her cousin, "When I opened the door, he pulled my hair, hit me and abused me."

The husband of the deceased Kumar has been found guilty under section 306, which deals with the abetment of suicide; 498A, which deals with cruelty by a husband or a relative; and 506 which deals with punishment for criminal intimidation of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as per the Kollam Additional Sessions Court Judge Sujith KN.

The accused person was granted bail by the Supreme Court which has now been cancelled by the court, thus making Kiran's arrest over the death of Nair possible. The 22-year-old woman pursuing a Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicines was found dead at her marital house in Kollam on June 21, 2021.

Suggested Reading: Dowry Deaths In India: Why Does Outrage Come Only In Wake Of Tragedy?

Vismaya Nair Dowry Death

Originally from Nilamel near Kadakkal of the Kollam District in Kerala, she was found dead two days after she had sent the message to her cousin. In her cousin, she confided about the abuse that she had to go through. She told him that her husband had beaten her several times over a car that was given to him as part of the dowry.

The trial on her death has been ongoing for four months and the verdict was made 11 months after her death. The voice recording of Vismaya and her father surfaced a day before the verdict was made. In the recording, she is heard crying and complaining about the abuse by Kiran.

She is reportedly heard saying, "If I'm made to live here, you will not see me again. I will do something I cannot bear it anymore. Acha (dad), I want to come back. I'm scared, I will be beaten." While her father consoles her, she is heard sobbing. Days before her death, she had sent messages to a cousin about the assault, where she had described them in detail. She even shared a picture of her face, shoulder and hands with injury marks.

The father of the deceased had told the media that their family had given the husband 100 sovereigns, Toyota Yaris care and one acre of land as dowry, however, the husband wanted a different modal car. Over which he harassed her.

Kumar used to work as the Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector. After her death, he was sacked and the Kerala Transport Minister Antony Raju said that he had allegedly harassed his wife over dowry which led to her death by suicide.

Antony Raju said, "This is a warning to all civil servants in the state. This action will not have any connection with the police inquiry. Kiran Kumar will not be eligible to get a pension in future." Read more here.