As per case facts, Usha Rani died due to asphyxia by strangulation with 100 percent post-mortem burns, within three months of her marriage. Her father complained that her husband Ram ... Chander, 'Jeth' Bharat, and 'Jethani' Sona harassed her and demanded dowry, including a scooter or money. Bharat Singh passed away during the appeal's pendency. The trial court had convicted Ram Chander, Bharat Singh, and Sona Devi for dowry death and cruelty. The appellants challenged their conviction and sentence before the High Court, with the defense arguing that Sona Devi and Bharat Singh lived separately and were uninvolved in Ram Chander and Usha Rani's matrimonial affairs, and that Usha Rani had committed suicide. They also highlighted a delay in the First Information Report. The question arose whether Usha Rani was subjected to cruelty or harassment soon before her death in connection with a dowry demand, and if the statutory presumption of dowry death under Section 113-B of the Evidence Act applied to all accused. Finally, the High Court found sufficient evidence to confirm the presumption against Ram Chander, upholding his conviction and sentence for dowry death and cruelty. However, the court acquitted Sona Devi, extending her the benefit of doubt, as evidence showed her separate residence and the dowry demand for a scooter was exclusively for Ram Chander, making her unlikely to be a beneficiary. The court concluded that the delay in FIR registration did not adversely affect the prosecution's veracity.