‘Participating in Operation Sindoor doesn’t give You immunity’: SC tells army commando in dowry death case

New Delhi, Jun 24: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to grant any relief to an Army commando convicted in a dowry death case, ruling that his elite military service, including participation in the recent Operation Sindoor, does not entitle him to special treatment. “That doesn’t give you any immunity to commit atrocities at home,” a bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran observed, reports Bar and Bench.

The petitioner, a Black Cat commando had sought exemption from surrendering while his appeal is pending. He cited his decorated service record and recent participation in Operation Sindoor, offensive against Pakistan earlier this month.

Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhri, appearing for the soldier, argued, “For the last 20 years, I have served in the Army and participated in Operation Sindoor.” But the bench remained unmoved, noting that such credentials only strengthened the prosecution’s case. “This shows how physically fit you are and the manner in which you alone could have strangulated your wife,” the court said. Convicted under Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code (dowry death), the petitioner had been sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment, a sentence upheld by the High Court. The case pertains to the alleged dowry-related killing of his wife, with accusations centring on a demand for a motorcycle.

The court made it clear that exemption from surrender is not available for serious offences. “This is gruesome. Exemption from surrendering is in cases where punishment is for six months, one year etc. Not in a case where a woman has been strangulated,” the bench said.

Chaudhri submitted that the charge was not one of murder under Section 302, and the witnesses cited were close relatives of the deceased. “There are serious discrepancies,” he argued. While the Court agreed to issue notice on the Special Leave Petition (SLP), it declined to grant interim protection. “We will issue notice on the SLP. But don’t ask us for exemption from surrendering,” the bench said firmly as reported by Bar&Bench. When Chaudhri sought more time for the petitioner to surrender, citing his current posting, the court allowed a short window.