What is my right over my stridhan (wedding gifts)?

Stridhan belongs exclusively to the wife. Husband or in-laws have no right over it. Misappropriation is a criminal offence.

Stridhan includes all movable and immovable property received by a woman before, during, or after marriage — gifts from parents, relatives, friends, husband's family, and the husband himself. This includes jewellery, cash, property, and any other valuables. The woman has absolute ownership and can dispose of it as she wishes. If husband or in-laws take control of her stridhan, it is considered entrustment, and misappropriation amounts to criminal breach of trust under BNS Section 316. The Supreme Court in Pratibha Rani v. Suraj Kumar (1985) clearly established that stridhan remains the exclusive property of the wife and the husband has no right over it.

• Hindu Succession Act — Stridhan provisions
• BNS Section 316 (Criminal breach of trust)
• Pratibha Rani v. Suraj Kumar (1985) — Supreme Court on Stridhan