Dowry Demand Not Mandatory To Invoke Section 498A IPC For Cruelty Against Wife: Supreme Court

New Delhi, December 12, 2024: The Supreme Court of India has delivered an important judgment, clarifying that the demand for dowry is not a pre-requisite to invoke the offence of cruelty against a wife under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Court emphasized that the central aspect of cruelty under this provision lies in the act of cruelty itself, whether physical or mental, and does not depend…