A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and K. Vinod Chandran heard the matter and stayed the execution of the sentence handed down by the trial court, effectively paving the way for Kumar’s release from custody. The order comes more than two years after Vismaya was found hanging in the bathroom of her marital home in Sasthamkotta, Kollam, on June 21, 2021, just over a year after her marriage.
Kiran Kumar, a former Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector, was convicted in May 2022 under Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with dowry deaths. He was also found guilty of abetment to suicide and subjecting his wife to cruelty in connection with dowry demands. Following his conviction, Kumar was dismissed from his government post.
The Kerala High Court had earlier refused to suspend his sentence, citing the seriousness of the charges and their wider social implications. “This is not a fit case for sentence suspension,” the High Court had ruled, stressing that dowry deaths need to be dealt with sternly in the interest of societal reform.
Undeterred, Kumar approached the Supreme Court. His legal counsel argued that he was a victim of a “media trial” and that no direct evidence proved he had demanded dowry. They claimed the conviction was based largely on circumstantial material and public outrage, rather than hard evidence.
However, prosecutors have maintained that the evidence against Kumar is strong and deeply disturbing. Before her death, Vismaya had sent her family several WhatsApp messages, voice notes, and photographs of injuries on her body, allegedly inflicted by Kumar during fights over dowry. These messages later became key evidence during the trial.
The tragic case sparked outrage across Kerala and the country, bringing renewed attention to the deep-rooted problem of dowry harassment and domestic violence. Widespread protests and social media campaigns followed Vismaya’s death, with women’s rights groups demanding swift and strict action against dowry-related abuse.
Reacting to the Supreme Court’s latest order, Vismaya’s family expressed disappointment, calling it a “setback” in their long legal fight for justice. “The evidence is all there…photos, messages, everything. It hurts to see the man responsible for her death walk free on bail,” said a family member.
Legal experts note that the Supreme Court’s decision does not amount to acquittal but is a procedural relief that allows Kumar to remain out of jail while his appeal is heard. The apex court has not commented on the merits of the conviction itself.
Still, the move has reignited public debate on how the judiciary handles gender-based violence and dowry-related cases. “This is more than just a legal issue. Dowry is a social crime, and suspending the sentence of a convict sends the wrong signal,” said Advocate Rekha Sharma, a legal activist working with domestic violence survivors.
Vismaya, a young Ayurveda medical student, had reportedly received a car and gold as part of her wedding arrangement with Kumar. But shortly after marriage, her family alleged, Kumar began harassing her, dissatisfied with the car’s model and performance.
Her final days, documented through messages and photos sent to her relatives, painted a harrowing picture of isolation, injury, and fear, one that, tragically, ended in death.
As the case moves forward in the appellate court, Vismaya’s story continues to stand as a grim reminder of how deeply embedded dowry culture remains, and how urgently both society and the legal system must respond to protect women from its deadly consequences.
