LHC confirms pre-arrest bail in dowry car dispute between husband and wife

The Lahore High Court has confirmed the pre-arrest bail of a man accused by his wife of fraud and criminal breach of trust for allegedly selling a car she said was part of her dowry, 24NewsHD TV reported on Friday.  

In a four-page written judgment, Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa upheld the interim bail granted to petitioner Muhammad Umair Riaz and made it absolute against surety bonds worth Rs200,000.

According to the ruling, the complainant alleged that her husband had unlawfully sold a vehicle that had been entrusted to him and was part of her dowry.

Court records showed that the vehicle was registered in the wife's name, while the husband had been using it.

The petitioner argued that the criminal case was lodged due to family and marital disagreements.

He further informed the court that his wife had already filed a separate suit in family court seeking the return of dowry items.

The judgment noted that the disputed vehicle had already become part of the proceedings pending before the family court.

It observed that the complainant herself had described the vehicle as a dowry item in those proceedings.

The court further pointed out that the wife did not disclose the existence of the pending family court case in the first information report (FIR) filed against her husband.

Justice Bajwa noted that the vehicle remained registered in the complainant's name and observed that, on the face of the record, the criminal case appeared to be linked to deteriorating marital relations between the parties.

The ruling also stated that the accused had joined the investigation and that no evidence of mala fide intent, dishonesty or corruption had been brought before the court at this stage.

Consequently, the court confirmed the husband's pre-arrest bail, allowing him to remain free from arrest while the legal proceedings continue.