Relevant Sections of The Indian Penal Code and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sahita (BNS)

Matrimonial disputes may involve criminal complaints under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sahita, 2023, such as:

Indian Penal Code (IPC)

Section 304B: Deals with cases of dowry-related deaths.

Section 493: Addresses situations where a man deceives someone into believing they are in a legal marriage.

Section 494: Pertains to someone marrying another person while their spouse is still alive.

Section 495: Deals with the same offense as in Section 494 but includes concealing a prior marriage.

Section 497: Addresses cases of adultery.

Section 498: Involves enticing, taking away, or detaining a married woman with criminal intent.

Section 498a Focuses on husbands or their relatives subjecting a woman to cruelty.

Additionally, there are offenses outlined in the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 and IPC **Section 406**, which deals with Criminal Breach of Trust.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sahita (BNS)

Section 85: Cruelty by a husband or his relatives towards a wife, punishable by up to three years imprisonment and a fine, if it drives her to suicide, causes grave injury, or endangers her life.

Section 81: Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage, punishable by up to ten years imprisonment and a fine.

Section 80: Dowry death, where a woman’s death occurs within seven years of marriage due to cruelty or harassment for dowry, punishable by at least seven years imprisonment, which may extend to life imprisonment.

We provide legal support for filing or defending such cases, ensuring your rights are protected.