Act Number: 45

Act Name: The Indian Penal Code, 1860

Year: 1860

Enactment Date: 1860-10-06

Long Title: It is expedient to provide a general Penal Code forindia;

Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs

Department: Department of Internal Security

Section 304B: Dowry death.
    1[304B. Dowry death. -- (1) Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called "dowry death", and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death.
    Explanation.For the purposes of this sub-section, "dowry" shall have the same meaning as in section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (28 of 1961).
    (2) Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.]
Notes:
1. Ins. by Act 43 of 1986, s. 10 (w.e.f. 19-11-1986).
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