Balasore Courts Hand Life Terms in 2012 Dowry Death, Death Penalty in 2023 Acid Attack Case

Overview

• The Additional District and Sessions Court at Soro sentenced Santosh Barik and his parents, Binod and Sanjumani, to life imprisonment for Swapna Barik’s 2012 dowry-related poisoning.
• Judge Meenakshi Dash also levied a Rs 10,000 fine on each convict after a trial that examined 18 witnesses and documentary evidence.
• Swapna’s father filed an FIR on June 30, 2012, leading to charges under IPC Sections 304(B) and 498(A) and the Dowry Prohibition Act.
• In a separate case, Judge Abdul Samim Akhtar awarded the death sentence to Chandan Kumar Rana for the acid attack that fatally injured his wife, Banita Singh, and imposed a Rs 50,000 fine.
• The acid attack occurred on February 20, 2023, injuring Banita’s sister and two children, and the court’s conviction relied on 34 witnesses, 110 exhibits and 33 material objects, with six co-accused acquitted after Rana was held guilty on February 4.