Mother, son sentenced to 7 yrs in dowry death case

According to the police, S. Leelavathi of Kondur in Krishna district married Sabbi Sashikiran Reddy of Malkajgiri on 31 October 2015. At the time of the marriage, Rs. 10 lakhs cash, 10 tolas gold, three acres of a mango orchard, and household articles were given to Sashikiran as per his demands.

A month after the wedding, Sashikiran and his mother Usha started harassing Leelavathi, demanding additional dowry. They asked the victim's father, G. Krishna Reddy, for Rs. 5 lakhs cash, 15 tolas gold, and the registration for the mango orchard. A panchayath was held and Krishna Reddy paid Rs. 1 lakh cash to his son-in-law. However, the harassment did not stop even after that. On 13 June 2016, unable to bear the torture, Leelavathi ender her life.

Based on Krishna Reddy's complaint, the Malkajgiri police registered a case on 14 June 2016. The mother and son were arrested a day later and sent to judicial remand. On completion of the investigation, the case was charged on 25 August 2016.

On Tuesday, the two were convicted and sentenced to undergo seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 6,000 each was imposed.