As per case facts, Reena Devi married Vinod Kumar in 1998 and within months faced harassment for insufficient dowry. She died an unnatural death on 13.07.1999, allegedly burned by her ... husband and in-laws, in the presence of her cousin. The trial court convicted the husband, Vinod Kumar, under Section 304B IPC while acquitting others. He appealed, arguing the conviction relied on unreliable and inconsistent evidence. The question arose whether the prosecution successfully proved the demand for dowry just before the death of the deceased, which is an essential ingredient for an offense under Section 304B IPC. Finally, the High Court found the prosecution's evidence, especially from PW-8 and PW-9, unreliable and contradictory. PW-8 admitted no dowry demand at marriage, and PW-9's eye-witness account was deemed unnatural. The Court concluded that the prosecution failed to prove dowry demand just before death, thus not establishing the essential ingredients. The impugned judgment was set aside, and the appellant acquitted.