Relatives living in distant places can also be booked for harassing wife-Section 498A- Bombay High Court

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The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court recently refused to quash a First Information Report (FIR) lodged against the relatives of a man in a Section 498A case, saying that many a time, relatives living in distant places also meddle in the affairs of a couple and harass the wife.

The Court in an order passed on June 8, refused to accept the argument on two counts.

"Firstly, there is no presumption in law that a relative living at a distance is always innocent unless proved otherwise. A relative staying away from the husband and wife can and has been seen in many cases meddling in affairs of the married couple and that too of such a nature and to such an extent, as to amount to real harassment." 

As far as the in-laws are concerned, the wife alleged in her FIR that when she informed her husband's parents and siblings about his extra marital affair, they instead of controlling his conduct, started abusing her