STATE OF KARNATAKA vs DATTARAJ .

The Supreme Court held that the prosecution must establish the elements of dowry death under Section 304B IPC, which includes proving that the deceased was subjected to cruelty or harassment by the husband or his relatives in connection with the demand for dowry. The Court emphasized that the demand for dowry must be shown to have occurred soon before the death of the woman. In this case, the Court found sufficient evidence of continuous harassment and dowry demands by Dattaraj and his family, leading to the conviction under Section 304B IPC being upheld.