The Mahila Court in Coimbatore on Monday sentenced a 35-year-old man to seven years of imprisonment for abetting the suicide of his pregnant wife along with their one-and-a-half-year-old son in 2018.
Judge V. Sundararaj awarded the punishment to Dhanapal, a daily wage labourer from Chinna Thadagam.
According to the prosecution, Dhanapal used to come home intoxicated and beat his wife, Maheswari. He also harassed her by demanding dowry. Maheswari conceived again, but Dhanapal’s cruelty continued even during her last trimester.
On December 12, 2018, she ended her life along with their one-and-a-half-year-old son. Their bodies were found on the railway line between Peelamedu and Coimbatore North railway stations.
The Government Railway Police registered a case against Dhanapal and investigated the incident. He was charged under various sections of the law, including dowry harassment and abetment to suicide.
The court also imposed a fine of ₹3,000 on Dhanapal. B. Jisha appeared for the prosecution.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)
Published – November 10, 2025 07:24 pm IST
