IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
Praveer Bhatnagar, J.
Chauthmal Goswami S/o Moolpuri Goswami -Petitioner
Versus
Kailash S/o Pannalal and ors. – Respondents
S.B. Criminal Revision Petition No. 367 of 2004
Decided On : 14-02-2024
Abetment of Suicide - Criminal Law - Section 306 IPC, Section 107 IPC - The court discussed the provisions of Section 306 IPC and Section 107 IPC, emphasizing the need to establish the suicidal death and abetment by the accused. The prosecution failed to prove the deceased's suicide, leading to the acquittal of the accused respondents.
Fact of the Case:
The prosecution alleged continuous harassment of the deceased by the accused, leading to her death. However, the evidence presented failed to establish the essential fact of suicide by the deceased.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the prosecution failed to prove the foundational fact of the deceased's suicide, and the evidence supported the defense version that the deceased accidentally fell into a well, resulting in her death. Consequently, the accused respondents were acquitted.
Issues: The key issue revolved around establishing the deceased's suicide and the accused's abetment, as alleged by the prosecution.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the failure of the prosecution to prove the deceased's suicide, as well as the evidence supporting the defense version of the accidental death.
Final Decision: The criminal revision petition was dismissed, and the accused respondents were acquitted.
ORDER :
1. This criminal revision petition under Section 397 read with Section 401 Cr.P.C. has been preferred against the judgment dated 13.02.2004 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track) No.2, Bundi in Sessions Case No.94/2003, whereby, the accused-respondents have been acquitted from the charges under Sections 120B, 306 and 494 IPC.
2. The prosecution alleges that the accused persons were continuously harassing the deceased Manju and after the delivery of three daughters, the accused persons subjected her to cruelty. Manju was thrown out of her marital house. Afterwards accused Radhyshyam filed a suit for restitution of conjugation rights. During the trial accused Radhyshyam documented a compromise with the deceased resulting retrieval of the deceased to her marital home. Thereafter deceased again became pregnant and presuming that the deceased would again deliver the baby girl her pregnancy was terminated. She was again subjected to cruelty and was thrown out of the marital house on 29.10.2021.
3. Afterwards, Radhyshyam filed a suit for divorce against the deceased and again took the deceased to the marital house. Thereafter, within three months accused persons hatched a conspiracy and murdered her.
4. The prosecution also alleges that fifteen days before the deceased death, Radhyshyam got married to another lady and was living with her. The police after an investigation charge-sheeted accused persons under Section 306 I.P.C. and did not find allegations of murder true.
5. Before dealing with the facts of the case it would be relevant to refer to the law concerning the abetment of suicide. The relevant provision contained in Section 306 I.P.C. reads as under:-
6. “Abetment of a thing” has been described in Section 107 IPC, which reads as under:-
First - Instigates any person to do that thing; or
Secondly. —Engages with one or more other person or persons in any conspiracy for the doing of that thing, if an act or illegal omission takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to the doing of that thing; or
Thirdly. — Intentionally aids, by any act or illegal omission, the doing of that thing.
Explanation 1. — A person who, by willful misrepresentation, or by willful concealment of a material fact which he is bound to disclose, voluntarily causes or procures, or attempts to cause or procure, a thing to be done, is said to instigate the doing of that thing.”
7. From the bare reading of the said provisions, it implies that to convict a person for the offences under Section 306 IPC, the basic constituents of the offence namely whether the death was suicidal and whether there was an abetment on the part of the accused as contemplated in Section 107 IPC has to be established.
8. So far as the facts of the present case are concerned, the prosecution has failed to establish the essential fact that the deceased Manju committed Suicide. PW-1 Ganeshlal is the complainant and the brother of the deceased. In his relevant cross-examination, he admitted that after getting the information about the deceased death, he went to the place of occurrence, where police officials were also present. At that time he did not submit any written report about the incident and even after conducting the postmortem of the deceased, he did not endeavour to file a written complaint against the accused persons. He also admitted that her niece Mamta was also present at the place of occurrence. He further admitted that the report was filed 5 to 6 days after the incident in consultation with the advocate. He stated his unawareness about mentioning the allegations of murder in the complaint. He also admitted that he does not know Kamla and he has not seen the Nata
Cruelty and abetment of suicide – Mere fact of commission of suicide by itself would not be sufficient for Court to raise presumption under Section 113A of Evidence Act, and to hold accused guilty of....
The main legal point established in the judgment is that for an offence under Section 306 of IPC, there must be active suggestion, instigation, or encouragement on the part of the accused to abet the....
Demands for repayment do not constitute abetment to commit suicide under relevant IPC provisions.
To convict under Section 306 IPC, clear proof of active instigation and direct acts leading to suicide is necessary; mere allegations of harassment are insufficient.
Conviction under Section 306 IPC requires clear evidence of instigation or participation in suicide; mere allegations or psychological pressure are insufficient to establish abetment.
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