Visakhapatnam: Judge of Mahila Court A. Varaprasada Rao on Wednesday sentenced a man to 10 years rigorous imprisonment on charges of abetting suicide of his wife, who ended her life by setting herself ablaze at her home.

According to additional public prosecutor Ramamurthy Naidu, Nalla Appalaraju of Bhanojithota under Gajuwaka police station limits in the city, married G. Lavanya 2006. The couple has two daughters. After the birth of the daughters, Appalaraju and his parents began harassing her for additional dowry. Unable to bear the continuous harassment for giving birth to girl children and for more money, Lavanya committed suicide on April 28, 2011.

She was rushed to a private hospital where she succumbed to burns on May 29, after fighting for life for over a month. Her mother G.G. Devi lodged a complaint with the Gajuwaka police who registered a case under Section 302 and 498A of IPC.

Third metropolitan magistrate of Gajuwaka G. Ramakrishna recorded Lavanya’s dying declaration. After hearing arguments from either side, mahila court judge A. Varaprasada Rao pronounced the judgment convicting the accused to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for abetting suicide and three years rigorous imprisonment for harassing the victim for dowry, which eventually led to her death.