Misuse of the Dowry Act in India

US NRI family paid for settlement and case reopened
for more money

Ludhiana, March 13, 2004
Tribune News Service

The district police has initiated proceedings to declare a US-based NRI family proclaimed offenders in a dowry case registered at the Model Town police station here by their city-based daughter-in-law two years ago.

The NRIs had agreed to pay $ 1.5 lakh to the girl’s family as part of the compromise deal struck between them to settle the issue.

The case was reopened after the family could pay only $ 90,000. The NRIs, however, have claimed that they had fulfilled the compromise deal.

While the NRIs — Desh Paul Mehta and his son, Max Mehta — and some relatives have in letters to The Tribune alleged that they are the real victims in the case and are being blackmailed through the misuse of the Dowry Act, the police is convinced that the charges levelled by the daughter-in-law, Rajni Kalra, and her father, Virender Kalra, are true.

The police has proceeded on getting the suspects declared proclaimed offenders after rejecting their allegations that the dowry charges and the compromise deal was effected after some policemen were allegedly bribed by the opposite party in the case.

The case was closed after the deal was struck in September last year. However, two months later, it was reopened as the full compromise amount had not been paid. Mr R.K. Jaiswal, SP (Headquarters), had conducted the inquiry along with Model Town SHO Harjinder Singh. Talking to The Tribune, the police officials said the NRIs had breached the compromise.

The case file includes allegations and counter-allegations filed by both parties. As per the file, Desh Paul Mehta’s son Max Paul Mehta had married Rajni Kalra, daughter of Virender Kalra, a resident of Model Town, in 1999. The couple had a son. In 2002, the girl came back from the USA alleging maltreatment and demand for dowry. The local police arrested Desh Paul Mehta, Max Paul Mehta and other members of the family in November, 2002, when they came to India.

Desh Paul Mehta claimed that they were unaware of the dowry case lodged against them and had treated the girl well. They claimed that they were harassed by the police and forced to sign the compromise. As per the deal, the NRIs were to pay $ 1.5 lakh but they have paid only $ 1 lakh so far.

The NRIs, who had not been able to return abroad had paid $ 40,000 as the first instalment to be allowed to leave the country. Mehta claims that he was forced to pay. However, the police said he brought about the compromise just to get off the hook. He sent $ 60,000 from the USA but allegedly refused to pay more.

Desh Paul Mehta says he did not pay the remaining amount as the girl’s family was demanding $ 80,000 more. This charge has been denied by the girl’s family and the police.

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