India: Dowry charge slapped on dead man: Wife and her family register FIR a day after her husband killed himself 'to counter abetment to suicide charge'

Story here. Excerpt:

'A case of dowry has been registered against a dead man. 

On October 5, 30-year-old banker Rakesh Pilania jumped from his apartment in an upscale Gurgaon locality. His family alleges that he committed suicide out of fear of being implicated under Section 498A of the IPC (cruelty against wife by husband or his relatives). 

His wife, meanwhile, registered a dowry harassment case against her husband and his family a day after Rakesh died. 

Though Rakesh is no more, proceedings under Section 498A would continue against his family. 

Experts say Rakesh’s case brings to the fore the misuse of section 498A and its grave consequences, including suicide. 

“In this case, the FIR seems to be an attempt at evading action for  abetment to suicide. Even after the man’s death, his family would have to face a legal battle,” says Deepika Bhardwaj, a journalist and filmmaker, currently working on a documentary on possible misuses of the controversial penal section.'