Home / India / Dowry offences and dowry death
Dowry offences and dowry deathPossibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
§ 3 — giving, taking, or abetting the giving / taking of dowryPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- Minimum 5 years
- Fine
- Minimum ₹15,000 or the value of the dowry, whichever is more
Court may impose less than 5 years for adequate and special reasons recorded in the judgment.
§ 4 — demanding dowry, directly or indirectlyPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 6 months–2 years
- Fine
- Up to ₹10,000
§ 4A — advertising an offer of money / property as dowryPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 6 months
- Fine
- Up to ₹15,000
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
Figure reported from secondary summaries; re-check against the Act.
§ 6 — failure to transfer dowry to the woman / her heirs within the prescribed timePossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 6 months–2 years
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in section)
Figure reported from secondary summaries; re-check against the Act.
BNS § 80 — dowry death (death by burns / bodily injury / otherwise than under normal circumstances within 7 years of marriage, after cruelty / harassment for dowry soon before death)Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 7 years–life
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in section)
Minimum 7 years rigorous imprisonment; presumption under BSA § 118.
One secondary summary misstated § 4 as 'up to 5 years'; the bare-act text (6 months–2 years) is used here. § 3 has a stated minimum (5 years) and no stated maximum in the section.