In this Act, "dowry" means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly--
(a) by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage; or
(b) by the parents of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either party to the marriage or to any other person;
at or before 1[or any time after the marriage] 2[in connection with the marriage of the said parties, but does not include] dower or mahr in the case of persons to whom the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) applies.
3* * * * *
Explanation II.--The expression "valuable security" has the same meaning as in section 30 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
(a) by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage; or
(b) by the parents of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either party to the marriage or to any other person;
at or before 1[or any time after the marriage] 2[in connection with the marriage of the said parties, but does not include] dower or mahr in the case of persons to whom the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) applies.
3* * * * *
Explanation II.--The expression "valuable security" has the same meaning as in section 30 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
Source footnotes
1. Subs. by Act 43 of 1986, s. 2, for "or after the marriage" (w.e.f. 19-11-1986).2. Subs. by Act 63 of 1984, s. 2, for certain words (w.e.f. 2-10-1985).
3. The Explanation I omitted by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 2-10-1985).
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More sections of this act
Section 1 · Short title, extent and commencement.Section 3 · Penalty for giving or taking dowry.Section 4 · Penalty for demanding dowry.Section 4A · Ban on advertisement.Section 5 · Agreement for giving or taking dowry to be void.Section 6 · Dowry to be for the benefit of the wife or her heirs.Section 7 · Cognizance of offences.Section 8 · Offences to be cognizable for certain purposes and to be bailable and non-compoundable.India Code, Government of India. Text fetched 10 Oct 2026. Check the linked official text and subsequent notifications when applying a provision.