The Karnataka High Court has clarified that strangers or neighbours cannot be charged under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). This section deals with cruelty by a husband or his relatives to a woman. The ruling came after a 37-year-old woman named Asha, a neighbour, faced charges in a dowry harassment case. The wife of the accused had included Asha’s name, claiming she influenced her husband’s rude behaviour. Police filed charges against Asha along with the husband and his relatives. Justice M. Nagaprasanna noted that allowing the case to continue against Asha would abuse the legal process and cause injustice. He cited the Supreme Court’s clear ruling that only blood relatives or those related by marriage can be included under Section 498A. The High Court referred to the Supreme Court judgment that limits the definition of ‘relative’ strictly to husband’s blood or marital relations. This verdict protects outsiders like neighbours from being unfairly dragged into marital cruelty cases.