M A I N   N E W S

Gurgaon CJM, parents booked for dowry death
Sumedha Sharma/TNS

Gurgaon, July 29
Almost two weeks after being booked for alleged murder of his wife Geetanjali, Gurgaon Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Ravneet Garg has now been booked for dowry death.

The Gurgaon police has booked the CJM and his parents under Section 304B (continuous dowry harassment leading to unnatural death) of the Indian Penal Code.

While the inclusion of dowry death charge 12 days after the murder has surprised many, the investigators blame it on the delay in providing evidence by Geetanjali’s family.

“They (Geetanjali’s family) initially levelled allegations about dowry demands and harassment. They were asked to bring supportive evidence. The deceased’s brother, Pradeep Aggarwal, and her brother-in-law came forward and provided strong evidence against the Gargs today and we included the charge in the FIR,” said a member of the special investigation team looking into the case.

Aggarwal reportedly submitted several papers to suggest that the Gargs had not only demanded dowry at the time of wedding but had received gifts in cash and kind several times till May 2013.

Geetanjali’s family denied having knowledge of any physical harassment but insisted she was being continuously harassed for money.

The family had earlier alleged that Geetanjali had asked for Rs 2 lakh from them in May after her in-laws allegedly refused to pay the school fee of her daughters. Her refusal to get any more money ultimately led to her murder, they claimed.

The police are likely to arrest the CJM and his parents by tomorrow.

“We can’t say anything right now but Section 304B is a serious offence and the corresponding action can’t be evaded,” said the SIT officer.

Police Commissioner Alok Mittal confirmed the inclusion of dowry charge, but refused to elaborate.