Father in law is demanding me for extra dowry

Dear Client,
Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 prescribe penalties or punishments for giving or taking dowry by either party in a marriage and are enacted to protect women who face the evil of dowry demand. As per Section 3(1) of the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, if any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the value of such dowry, whichever is more. Thus the provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act(DPA) provide limited protection to the givers of dowry seeking to file a complaint under this law. Under Section 7(3), of the DPA, prosecutions under this law cannot be initiated based on statements made by a person aggrieved. Apart from this, you can file a complaint against your husband and his other family members who subjected you to domestic violence in the local police station under Section 12 of the PWDV Act, 2005. An aggrieved person or a Protection Officer or any other person on behalf of the aggrieved person may present an application directly to the Magistrate seeking one or more reliefs under this Act that include the right to reside in the shared household, prohibitory/restraining order and residence order. You can file a private complaint against the persons in the court of the Magistrate under Section 223 of BNSS which outlines the procedure for a Magistrate to take cognizance of an offence. Upon receiving a complaint, the Magistrate shall examine the complainant and any witnesses present. This examination is conducted under oath, and the substance of the examination is documented and signed by the complainant, witnesses, and the Magistrate. If the Magistrate finds sufficient grounds for proceeding with the case, he may issue a summons or warrant to the accused under Section 227 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023. Given the proposition of relevant laws, you may consult with an Advocate for guidance and steps to navigate the issue in the right way.