Kerala man loses govt job after alleged dowry-related death of his wife

The Kerala government dismissed from service an assistant motor vehicle inspector, who was accused of torturing and harassing his wife, who committed suicide at his residence in June.

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): The Kerala government on Friday dismissed from service an assistant motor vehicle inspector, who was accused of torturing and harassing his wife, who committed suicide at his residence in June.

State Transport Minister Antony Raju told the media here that the action was taken against the assistant motor vehicle inspector S Kiran Kumar as per the Kerala Civil Service Rules, 1960. 'The government has decided to dismiss him from service. His anti-women, anti-social activities have tarnished the reputation of the state government and motor Vehicles Department and hence action has been taken under the Kerala Civil Service Rules, 1960,' Raju said.

Vismaya was found hanging in the bathroom of her husband Kiran Kumar's house at Sasthamkotta in Kollam district on June 21. Kumar, an assistant motor vehicle inspector, since suspended, was arrested later on a complaint by her parents and brother, alleging that he had tortured and harassed her for dowry. The Minister said Kumar was dismissed from service after the department made inquiries regarding the incident and also hearing the accused and other witnesses.

Read: Kollam dowry death case: Strong evidence of torture in the case says investigation officer

'The decision was taken after hearing the accused and other witnesses in the matter and the department found that all the allegations raised against him were true,' he added. Raju said this action of the state government will send a message across the state so that no more deaths similar to Vismaya will ever happen.

A day before the incident, Vismaya had sent WhatsApp messages to her relatives over the alleged harassment by Kumar for dowry, as well as photos of wounds and marks of beatings on her body. Her father told a TV channel that 100 sovereigns of gold and over one-acre land, besides a Rs 10 lakh worth car were given as dowry to Kumar during the wedding in 2020. But Kumar did not like the car and wanted Rs 10 lakh in cash. As he was told it was not possible, he used to torture her, the woman's father had said.

Read: Kerala govt moots helpline for dowry harassment after woman tortured to death by husband

PTI