My husband subjected me to cruelty in Kolkata, can I file a 498A case?

Cruelty by a husband or his relatives is a criminal offense under West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act 1997 and Section 498A of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Calcutta High Court has held that cruelty includes physical and mental harassment, whether for dowry or otherwise.

In Kolkata, you can file a police complaint and the police must register an FIR upon receiving it. The Calcutta High Court has cautioned against misuse but upheld that genuine complaints must be prosecuted.

Under West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act 1997, the offense carries imprisonment and fine, and the victim can also seek maintenance. You should preserve medical reports, messages, and witness statements as evidence for your complaint in Kolkata.