Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Dowry gets weddings cancelled

CHENNAI: Two marriages scheduled to take place here on Thursday got cancelled at the last minute, as the grooms wanted more dowry, forcing the police to intervene and put them in jail.

According to police sources, the marriage of B. Mohammed Yusuf (27) of Kandamangalam, Tiruvannamalai district, was fixed with a girl of Mogappair here. After negotiations, her family agreed to give Rs.1.25 lakh in cash and 60 sovereigns of gold jewellery as dowry.

While arrangements for the marriage were under way and the distribution of invites was getting over, Yusuf’s father S.Basheer came to the girl’s house last week and demanded another Rs.1.25 lakh and 16 sovereigns of gold. Efforts by the girl’s father, Ghouse Basha, to convince Yusuf and his family members turned futile as they stood firm on their demand.

When indications were clear that the marriage might not happen without the extra dowry, Ghouse lodged a complaint with the All Women Police Station in Tirumangalam. When police attempted to convince the groom, he was in no mood to listen. Hours ahead of the scheduled marriage, Yusuf and his father were taken into custody.

In a similar incident at Choolaimedu, a bridegroom demanded more dowry that led to the cancellation of the marriage the previous night.

Police said the marriage of K. Krishnan alias Carnilos (27) of Kamarajapuram in Choolaimedu was planned with a girl of the same area. A week before the marriage, the bride even converted to the religion of the groom and changed her name.

On Monday, Carnilos demanded Rs.10,000 more dowry, but the bride’s family expressed its inability.

When attempts to persuade him did not yield results, the girl preferred a complaint with the Thousand Lights police. A senior police officer also tried to convince Carnilos who refused to budge. He was arrested on Wednesday night.

The accused were produced in different courts and remanded to judicial custody.

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