Dowry-related crimes continue to remain a major concern in India, with deaths and allegations of harassment continuing to surface across the country. The recent deaths of two women within the span of a few days, allegedly linked to dowry harassment, have once again drawn attention to the issue.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) Crime in India 2024 report, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of dowry-related cases in the country. The NCRB recorded 2,038 cases of dowry deaths in the state, along with 21,266 incidents registered under the category of ‘Cruelty by Husband or Relatives’ under Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
NCRB findings
Bihar followed Uttar Pradesh in dowry death cases with 1,078 registered incidents, while West Bengal recorded 19,666 cases under Section 85 of the BNS.
During the same period, Uttar Pradesh also recorded the highest number of cases under the Dowry Prohibition Act, with 4,482 registered cases. Karnataka followed with 1,991 such cases.
The NCRB report further found that, of the 1,008 dowry-related incidents reported across metropolitan cities in 2024, Bengaluru alone accounted for 878 cases, or nearly 87 per cent.
Lucknow followed with 48 reported cases.
Between 2017 and 2022, an average of around 7,000 women died annually in dowry-related incidents across the country.
Metro city trends
Delhi recorded the highest number of dowry deaths among the country’s 19 metropolitan cities in 2024. The national capital has topped the list for the past five years.
According to NCRB data, Delhi reported 109 dowry death cases involving 111 victims, with a crime rate of 1.4 per lakh population.
Kanpur recorded the second-highest number of dowry death cases in 2024, with 54 incidents and victims, and a crime rate of 4 per lakh population. Patna followed with 30 cases and a crime rate of 3.1. However, taken together, Uttar Pradesh’s metropolitan cities — including Kanpur, Lucknow, and Ghaziabad — accounted for 94 dowry deaths during the period.
Low conviction rates
Across the country, the conviction rate under the Dowry Prohibition Act remained low, with only 17.4% of cases resulting in conviction, while 94.6% of cases remained pending, including those carried forward from previous years. In contrast, dowry death cases recorded a higher conviction rate of 46.2%, though pendency remained high at 93.6%.
A similar trend was visible in cases registered under Section 85 of the BNS, where 92.2% of cases remained pending, and the conviction rate stood at 20.1%.
In 2023 as well, Uttar Pradesh had recorded the highest number of cases under the Dowry Prohibition Act at 7,151, followed by Bihar with 3,665 cases and Karnataka with 2,322. However, the total number of such cases recorded under the Act declined in 2024.
Nationally, 6,156 dowry death cases were recorded in 2024. Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number at 2,122, followed by Bihar with 1,143 cases.
Uttar Pradesh also recorded the highest number of crimes against women between 2021 and 2024, according to NCRB data. The state registered 56,083 cases in 2021, 65,743 in 2022, 66,381 in 2023, and 66,398 cases in 2024.
Also Read: Crime against women highest in Delhi; 13,396 cases in 2024: NCRB
In recent months, several alleged cases of dowry-related harassment and deaths have drawn public attention, highlighting the persistence of the issue despite legal safeguards.
Recent cases
Twisha Sharma, an actor and content creator, was found dead on May 12 at the Bhopal residence of her husband, Samarth Singh, whom she had married five months earlier. Her family, based in Greater Noida, alleged harassment linked to dowry demands. Police subsequently registered a First Information Report (FIR) against her husband and mother-in-law under Section 80(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for dowry death.
In another case on May 17, Deepika Nagar, a woman in her early twenties, died after falling from the roof of her home in Greater Noida. While initial reports suggested suicide, her family alleged foul play and claimed she had faced harassment and physical abuse.
Earlier this year, Kajal Chaudhary, a 27-year-old Delhi Police SWAT commando who was reportedly four months pregnant, died in an alleged case of domestic violence involving her husband. Police had registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.
