Faeem Qureshi sentenced to 10 years in jail for wife Varsha Raghuvanshi’s suicide case

Agra (UP) – In connection with the 2021 suicide of Varsha Raghuvanshi, who was allegedly harassed and driven to take her own life, the Additional District and Sessions Court has sentenced Faeem Qureshi to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. He has been convicted under Sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty by husband or relatives) of the Indian Penal Code.

1. Faeem’s father Qayoom Qureshi, mother Firdaus Qureshi, brother Naeem Qureshi, and sister Tabassum Qureshi have been acquitted due to lack of direct evidence linking them to the crime.

2. Government prosecutors argued that Varsha was not only harassed for dowry but also pressured to convert to Islam. However, the Court noted that there was no concrete evidence to support this claim.

What is the case ?

On 12^thNovember 2021, Varsha was found dead at her in-laws’ house. Her family alleged that she endured months of physical and mental torture due to repeated dowry demands from her in- laws. They allegedly demanded ₹5 lakh and a four-wheeler as dowry. When these demands were not met, she was harassed. She was also pressured to convert to Islam and was reportedly forced to cook and eat meat despite her religious beliefs. Witnesses testified that she was mocked for performing Hindu rituals, insulted for following Hindu traditions, and was told that if she refuses to accept Islam, she will lose her life. Her family claimed that she was murdered and then hanged to make it appear as suicide.