Supreme Court: Munni Devi Acquitted Due to Insufficient Evidence

Summary: Munni Devi, who was previously found guilty under serious charges, has been found not guilty by the Supreme Court. The court decided there wasn't enough evidence to keep her conviction.

The Background: A Family Tragedy

Munni Devi was first found guilty for the death of her daughter-in-law, Alka, related to dowry demands. Alka was married to her son, Rahul, on December 2, 2010. The sad event happened less than a year later, on August 3, 2011, when Alka was found dead, leading to the arrest and conviction of Munni Devi and other family members.

Initial Conviction: A Heavy Sentence

On August 10, 2018, Munni Devi, her son Rahul, and another family member were found guilty under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Dowry Prohibition Act. They received sentences ranging from two to ten years. The charges included:

• Section 304-B: Dowry death
• Section 316: Causing the death of an unborn child
• Section 498-A: Cruelty by husband or relatives
• Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act

Appeals and High Court's Decision

After they were found guilty, Munni Devi and the others appealed. The Allahabad High Court found one family member not guilty and reduced Rahul's sentence, though he passed away during the appeal process. Munni Devi's conviction was kept for Sections 304-B and 316, but her sentence was reduced to seven years.

Supreme Court's Review: Lack of Evidence

On January 29, 2026, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Atul S. Chandurkar and Justice J.K. Maheshwari, looked at the case again. The court found that:

• There was no solid evidence of cruelty or harassment by Munni Devi specifically.
• The accusations were general, without specific examples of dowry demands or harassment.
• The prosecution couldn't prove without a doubt that Munni Devi was responsible for the dowry death or the death of the unborn child.

Key Points from the Judgment

• Presumption of Innocence: The court stressed the need for solid evidence to find someone guilty of such serious charges.
• Insufficient Evidence: The court noted the lack of specific examples of cruelty or harassment linked to Munni Devi.
• Final Verdict: Munni Devi was found not guilty of all charges, and the court ordered her immediate release.

Summary of the Verdict

Munni Devi was found not guilty of all charges due to a lack of solid evidence connecting her to the alleged crimes. The court ordered her to be released right away.