Kochi: The special CBI court in Kochi has rebuked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for failing to provide evidence to support the charges, while acquitting three individuals in a dowry case.

The court acquitted Sreekant Jayachandra Menon of Kodungallur, his father, Jayachandran T K, and his mother, Beena Jayachandran. The individuals were charged under various provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code following a CBI investigation. 

The prosecution argued that after Sreekant married Sruthy Suresh in 2018, the couple moved to Canada. Sruthy alleged that she was subjected to brutal assaults there and forced to consume drugs.

She also claimed that the accused had forced her to terminate her pregnancy and that Sreekant had allegedly put toilet-cleaning granules into her mouth, causing burn injuries to her internal organs. Following her return to India, Sruthy alleged that she was abandoned by the accused.

The case, initially registered by the Chottanikkara police in December 2022, was handed over to the CBI following the High Court's direction.

Delivering the verdict, CBI Judge N Seshadrinathan began the judgment with the remark: “Burn the Habit — Not Life.” The court observed that there was no evidence to support the claim that Sreekant had forcibly administered any granules as alleged.

The court acquitted the accused, stating that it found no proof of physical or mental torture for dowry or any conduct intended to drive the woman to take her own life.

Citing the medical records from Canada, the court noted that the burn injuries occurred after the woman consumed the granules herself while under the influence of cannabis.

The court further observed that the CBI had failed to produce any evidence to show that Sreekant’s parents had harassed Sruthy while she stayed at the matrimonial home in India.

(With PTI inputs)