In 2022, a trial court found Kumar guilty under Section 304B (dowry death) of the Indian Penal Code, among other sections, and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment. Kumar’s appeal before the Kerala High Court remains pending, after he moved to challenge his conviction in the case. The High Court had dismissed his application to suspend the sentence in December 2022.

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However, the Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices MM Sundresh and K Vinod Chandran accepted Kumar’s appeal against the High Court’s decision and ordered his release from the jail on bail.

Vismaya Dowry Death Case Explained

Vismaya, who was doing a Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicines, was found dead at her marital home in Kollam on June 21, 2021, a year and 20 days into her marriage to Kumar. The 24-year-old had ensured a year of dowry-related harassment from her husband, finally taking her own life.

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Vismaya’s death came two days after she sent messages to her cousin informing him that her husband had brutally beaten her over a car model that was given as part of her dowry. She had sent images of bruises and wounds on her body to her relatives through WhatsApp, saying that she was being harassed by her husband for dowry. Family shared screenshots of the WhatsApp chat and voice notes Vismaya sent to them after her death. The family had given 100 sovereigns, one acre of land and a Toyota Yaris car as dowry, but the husband allegedly wanted a different car model and more cash.

The case was investigated as a potential homicide, and in May 2022, a trial court convicted Kumar, finding he had meted out a dowry related to harassment and abuse to Vismaya throughout the subsistence of their marriage. Kumar, who was a government employee, was dismissed from service, with the chief minister saying the state will never turn a blind eye to crimes against women.