If the complaint of dowry demand and cruelty etc u/s 498A,406 IPC etc. is made by the wife/in laws to the police, the first thing that police will do is to serve you with notice under section 41,41A of the Cr.P.C. to appear before the IO and give your point of view about the complaint.
No arrest will be made nor you will be sent to jail. Police IO is supposed to collect the evidence in the matter, record statement of all prosecution witnesses as well accused persons. Send the victim for medical examination if injuries are inflicted on her. Collect and record the dowry items/articles from the accused person if these are found in his/their possession.
The Police will refer both parties to Mediation and Conciliatory division of the Crime against Woman cell where the amicable settlement of matrimonial dispute is being worked out between both parties. If reconciliation succeed the parties are made to sign compromise agreement, move ahead either to live together as husband and wife or go for divorce by mutual consent in the Family Court, and the criminal complaint is thus withdrawn by the complainant and is dismissed by the police as closed case.
If the reconciliation fail, the Police IO in consultation with the superior official not less than rank of SSP/DCP of the department decided the future course in the criminal complaint, if sufficient evidence exists against the accused persons, the FIR is registered and all accused arrested to be produced before the judicial magistrate for further proceedings. Till that time there is nothing to worry. However keep the persons on whose surety, you need to obtain either regular or anticipatory bail.