A wife suffered fatal burns in 2000; her father alleged dowry harassment by the husband and 16 relatives. Over 26 years, 16 relatives were acquitted through split trials, leaving only the husband convicted; the High Court later ordered a fresh retrial on procedural grounds instead of deciding on merits. The Supreme Court (Justices Kumar and Vinod Chandran) found the prosecution suppressed a Dying Declaration in which the wife said the fire was accidental (a leaking gas pipe) and that her husband was burned trying to save her. Documentary proof showed he'd invested heavily in her name, far exceeding the alleged ₹50,000 demand, while no post-mortem or independent witnesses were examined. Applying Sharad Birdhichand Sarda's "probable hypothesis of innocence" test, the Court acquitted him outright.