Vismaya Case : Supreme Court Suspends Sentence Of Husband Convicted For Dowry Death, Domestic Cruelty

The Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended the 10-year sentence imposed on Kiran Kumar for the death of his wife, Vismaya, over domestic cruelty related to dowry harassment.

A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed the interim order. It allowed his release on interim bail in a special leave petition filed by Kumar against the Kerala High Court's refusal to suspend his sentence.

The case relates to the death of Vismaya, a 22-year-old Ayurveda medical student, in 2021, within a year of her marriage. She had died by suicide due to dowry harassment. Kiran Kumar was then an assistant motor vehicle inspector.

The Kollam Additional District and Sessions Judge had convicted him under Sections 498A (subjecting a woman to cruelty for dowry), 306 (abetment of suicide) and 304B (dowry death) among others of the IPC and sentenced him to ten years imprisonment and a fine of ₹12.5 lakh.

The trial court took note that before her death, she had shared messages and photos with a classmate and sister-in-law, describing instances of physical and emotional abuse. The Witness testimonies referred to repeated instances of domestic abuse. There was evidence of the husband harassing the wife over his dissatisfaction with the car model offered as dowry.

His appeal against the conviction is pending in the Kerala High Court.

Advocate-on-Record Deepak Prakash appeared for the petitioner.

Case : Kiran Kumar v State of Kerala | SLP (Crl) 6729/2025