Kerala Court Sentences Man, Mother To Life For Starving Wife To Death Over Dowry

The Kollam Additional Sessions Court on Monday found Chandulal (36) and his mother, Geetha Lali (62), guilty of murdering Tushara, a native of Karunagapally, by starving her to death over dowry demands.

The court further ordered a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. The two accused in the dowry death case of a 28-year-old woman in Pooyapally have been awarded a life sentence.

Starvation & Abuse

Investigations revealed that Thushara was forced to survive on minimal food, mostly soaked rice and sugar syrup. At the time of her death, she weighed only 20 kilograms. A post-mortem confirmed that she died of pneumonia and multiple complications triggered by chronic malnutrition.

Dowry Demands & Harassment

Thushara’s family said that despite providing gold and money during her marriage in 2013, Chandulal and his family continued to demand an additional ₹2 lakh. She was subjected to years of physical and mental abuse and had been isolated from her family for over a year before her death.

Neighbors’ Testimonies

Local residents corroborated claims of mistreatment, stating that Thushara was rarely seen outdoors and appeared severely weak. Some reported that the in-laws falsely portrayed her as mentally unstable to justify isolating her.

Children’s Welfare

Authorities have ensured that Thushara’s two young children are now under the protection of child welfare services. The case highlights the urgent need for stronger action against dowry-related violence and greater societal efforts to prevent such tragedies.