By Praveen Kumar in New Delhi

PERHAPS in a first, a Noida court has ordered the police to register a case against a woman and her parents under the Dowry Prohibition Act.

The court also directed the police to initiate contempt proceedings against the investigating officer and the station house officer of Sector 20 police station.

The petitioner, Namit Joyal, submitted before the court that the two officers arrested him and his parents simply on the basis of the statement given by his wife Natasha and didn't investigate the matter.

Natasha had filed a complaint against Namit, a software engineer, and his parents for demanding Rs 12 lakh as dowry. On the basis of her complaint, the police filed an FIR and arrested him and his family members.

When Namit asked the officers on what grounds they had registered the FIR, they told him the statement of his wife was enough for his arrest.

Namit got married to Natasha in 2005. According to his petition, everything going fine, but his wife suddenly began creating troubles. She tried to persuade him to severe all ties with his parents.

She also started pestering him to buy a car and a flat.

" I bought a car and a flat. My wife began nagging me to register the flat in her name.

Her demands became more vexing day- by- day," he said.

In December 26, Natasha went to stay with her parents.

She and her family then allegedly began threatening to file a case against Namit if he did not pay her Rs 10 lakh.

When he refused, Natasha lodged a complaint accusing him of demanding dowry. The police promptly arrested him.

After getting bail two days later, Namit went to register an FIR against his wife and inlaws as the law says both the giver and taker of dowry are liable to be prosecuted. But the police allegedly refused to register a case.