📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Jagpreetbatth
Crime
Punjab Groom Cancels Wedding After Demanding Rs 10 Lakh and 4 Tolas Gold as Dowry
✍️ News18
🗓 06 Nov 2026, 01:01 AM
👁 19
A groom in Punjab has called off his marriage after the bride's family demanded Rs 10 lakh in cash and four tolas of gold as dowry, highlighting persistent dowry pressures.
The prospective groom in Punjab terminated his wedding plans after the bride's relatives insisted on a dowry comprising Rs 10 lakh in cash and four tolas of gold. The demand, which is illegal under Indian law, led the groom to walk away from the ceremony.
Sources indicate that the groom communicated his decision to the families involved, citing the excessive dowry as the sole reason for the cancellation. No further details about the families or the location of the planned ceremony were disclosed.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of dowry practices in parts of the country, despite legal prohibitions and awareness campaigns. Local authorities are expected to register a complaint, as dowry demands constitute a criminal offense under the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Activists and women's rights groups have repeatedly warned that such cases deter marriage and perpetuate gender-based exploitation. The Punjab police have previously taken action against similar dowry-related complaints, aiming to enforce the law and protect prospective brides and grooms alike.
The groom's decision may prompt renewed calls for stricter enforcement and community education to curb dowry expectations and ensure marriages are based on mutual consent rather than financial transactions.
Sources indicate that the groom communicated his decision to the families involved, citing the excessive dowry as the sole reason for the cancellation. No further details about the families or the location of the planned ceremony were disclosed.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of dowry practices in parts of the country, despite legal prohibitions and awareness campaigns. Local authorities are expected to register a complaint, as dowry demands constitute a criminal offense under the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Activists and women's rights groups have repeatedly warned that such cases deter marriage and perpetuate gender-based exploitation. The Punjab police have previously taken action against similar dowry-related complaints, aiming to enforce the law and protect prospective brides and grooms alike.
The groom's decision may prompt renewed calls for stricter enforcement and community education to curb dowry expectations and ensure marriages are based on mutual consent rather than financial transactions.