IRS Officer’s Mother Named Co-Accused in Dowry Harassment Case, Court Orders Trial
In a significant legal development, a court in Jaipur has reinstated the mother of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer as a co-accused in a dowry harassment case. This decision follows allegations from the complainant, Purva Bagdi, that her name had been removed during the initial police investigation. The ruling now subjects Kavita, the mother of Income Tax Department Assistant Commissioner Chirag Jhirwal, to trial for her alleged involvement in dowry harassment, a serious charge that underscores the complexities of familial and societal pressures surrounding marriage in India.
Allegations of Dowry Demands
Purva Bagdi has claimed that the demands for dowry began during her engagement to Chirag Jhirwal in December 2022. She alleges that the groom’s family sought an exorbitant sum of Rs 1 crore in cash, alongside a luxury SUV, such as a Toyota Fortuner or a Volvo, and a lavish engagement ceremony at a high-end venue like Rambagh Palace.
Despite her family’s modest financial situation, they reportedly took loans to meet these demands due to societal pressures. During the engagement, Purva’s family provided Rs 5 lakh in cash, a diamond ring, and other expensive gifts. The financial expectations reportedly escalated as the wedding date approached, culminating in an additional Rs 7 lakh being handed over to the groom’s family during the wedding at a luxury resort on Ajmer Road in Jaipur.
Purva alleges that on the wedding night, the groom’s family threatened to halt the bride’s farewell ceremony unless further dowry commitments were made, compelling her family to concede under duress.
Continuing Harassment and Legal Action
Following the marriage, Purva relocated to Ahmedabad with her husband. She alleges that the mental and emotional harassment persisted, and when she resisted further dowry demands, she was subjected to physical assault by Chirag. Unable to endure the situation, she returned to her parents’ home in Jaipur.
In 2024, Purva filed a complaint at Chitrakoot Police Station, citing dowry harassment and assault. The police conducted a medical examination and recorded statements from her family members, subsequently issuing notices to the accused for questioning. The case was presented before the Special Judge (Communal Rioting Cases) in Jaipur Metropolitan-II court, invoking IPC Section 498-A, which addresses cruelty by a husband or relatives, and IPC Section 406, concerning criminal breach of trust.
Initially, both Chirag and his mother were named as accused in the investigation. However, Purva alleges that her husband leveraged his influence to transfer the case file to the Director General of Police (DGP) office, resulting in the removal of her mother-in-law’s name from the case.
Court Restores Mother-in-Law as Co-Accused
The timeline of events began with a complaint lodged on July 2, 2024, at the Women Police Station in Jaipur West against Chirag Jhirwal, his mother Kavita (also referred to as Kamla), father Mahesh Chandra, and brother Mohit. The allegations included dowry harassment, assault, abuse, abetment of suicide, and misappropriation of stridhan (a woman’s property).
An FIR was registered on July 16, 2024. Investigating officer Manju Chaudhary found the allegations against Chirag and Kavita substantiated. On February 1, 2025, ACP Pushpendra Singh Solanki prepared a chargesheet confirming evidence against both. However, on February 5, 2025, Purva alleged that the accused used their influence to halt the submission of the chargesheet and transferred the investigation to the DGP office.
The case was subsequently reviewed by DCP Jaipur West and later by ADCP Sulesh Chaudhary. During this review, statements were re-recorded but not disclosed to Purva, leading to a reversal of earlier findings against her mother-in-law, leaving only Chirag as an accused at that stage.
The court has now overturned that conclusion, determining that sufficient evidence exists to proceed against Kavita as well. The court has mandated her appearance on July 8, 2026. In its ruling, the court expressed concerns regarding the investigation process, indicating that the investigating officer may not have adequately evaluated the evidence. ADCP Sulesh Chaudhary, however, defended the investigation, asserting that it was conducted based on the available evidence without bias.
The complaints also indicate that Chirag Jhirwal was granted bail in June of the previous year on a personal bond of Rs 40,000, with the court instructing him to cooperate with the investigation and refrain from contacting the complainant.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges and societal issues surrounding dowry practices in India, which remain a contentious topic. The legal proceedings not only reflect individual grievances but also raise broader questions about the enforcement of laws designed to protect women from harassment and abuse.
For further details on this case, refer to the original reporting source: the420.in.
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