The Uttarakhand High Court has acquitted Dr. Ram Kumar Gupta, who was convicted by a Chamoli trial court in 2007 under the Dowry Prohibition Act in connection with his wife’s death in 1993. Justice Pankaj Purohit, in a single bench ruling, observed serious irregularities in the trial court’s judgment and declared Gupta not guilty after an 18-year-long legal battle.
The High Court noted that the trial court relied on hearsay evidence and photocopies of alleged letters instead of original documents, violating well-established legal principles. It emphasized that without the original copies, the photocopied evidence was inadmissible.
Dr. Gupta maintained his innocence, claiming a cordial relationship with his wife, Kanchan, and denied any dowry demands. His brother, Ram Dev Gupta, testified that Kanchan was happy in her marriage and had even gone on several vacations with her husband. He also confirmed that the family was informed of her accidental death and that the cremation was conducted with their consent.
Kanchan’s cousin, Ashok Gupta, had submitted alleged letters to the investigating officer claiming dowry demands. However, the officer admitted to receiving the case with a delay of 1.5 years and collecting witness statements much later, raising questions about the credibility of the prosecution.
The defence pointed to the delayed FIR as a key weakness in the case and cited Kanchan’s dying declaration recorded by the SDM, in which she stated she was accidentally burned while cooking.
