2025 Supreme(All) 3510
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
SAMEER JAIN, J.
Rachana Devi And 2 Others – Appellant
Versus
State of U.P. and Another – Respondent
CRIMINAL REVISION No. - 5794 of 2023
Decided on : 08-09-2025
Important Points
Subject
Criminal Law - Abetment of Suicide
Headnote
(B) Discharge of Accused - Legal threshold for discharge is that if the available material does not prima facie constitute an offence, the accused should be discharged. (Para 18)
Facts of the case:
Revisionists filed a discharge application after being charged with abetment to suicide following allegations of marital discord and insults against the deceased husband of revisionist no. 1. The alleged suicide was claimed to result from the revisionists' actions. (Paras 4, 6, 8)
Findings of Court:
The trial court's dismissal of the discharge application was found to be illegal as there was insufficient evidence of abetment. (Paras 40, 41)
Issues: Whether sufficient evidence exists to constitute abetment of suicide under Section 306 IPC against the revisionists. (Paras 30, 35)
Ratio Decidendi: Essential elements for abetment under Section 306 IPC include mens rea and instigation, which were not established; evidence reflected routine marital disputes with no clear intent to abet suicide. (Paras 30, 34)
Result: Revision allowed; the impugned order dated 19.10.2023 is set aside.
For the Appellant : Manoj Kumar Patel
For the Respondent: Anand Pati Tiwari, G.A.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. factual background of the case. (Para 4 , 5 , 6) |
| 2. arguments for revisionists against abetment claims. (Para 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13) |
| 3. arguments for the state and o.p. no.2 defending abetment claims. (Para 14 , 15 , 16) |
| 4. court's analysis on the discharge application. (Para 17 , 18 , 20 , 21) |
| 5. court's reasoning on lack of prima facie evidence. (Para 19 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33) |
JUDGMENT :
SAMEER JAIN, J.
1. Supplementary affidavit filed by revisionists is taken on record.
2. Heard Sri Manoj Kumar Patel, learned counsel for the revisionists, Sri Anand Pati Tiwari, learned counsel for O.P. No.2 and Sri Kunwar Tejendra Bahadur, learned AGA for the State.
3. By way of instant revision following prayer has been made:-
" It is therefore, most respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may very kindly be pleased to set-aside the impugned judgment and order dated 19.10.2023 passed by Sessions Judge Auraiya rejecting the discharge application under section 227 Cr.P.C. in Sessions Trial No. 828 of 2023 (State Vs. Rachana Devi and others) arising out of case crime no. 683 of 2022 under section 306 I.P.C. Police Station-Dibiyapur District-Auraiya., so that justice may done otherwise the revisionist shall suffer irreparably.
It is further prayed that his Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to stay the entire criminal proceeding initiated against the revisionists in Sessions Trial No. 828 of 2023 (State Vs. Rachana Devi and others) arising out of case crime no. 683 of 2022 under section 306 I.P.C. Police Station-Dibiyapur District-Auraiya, pending before District and Session Judge Auraiya, during the pendency of the present Revision, otherwise the revisionists shall suffer an Irreparable loss and injury."
Factual matrix of the case
4. FIR of the present case was lodged on 14.11.2022 against revisionists and one another under Section 306 IPC and according to FIR, marriage of the son of O.P. No. 2 was solemnized with revisionist no.1 about 7 years before and after marriage revisionists used to insult his son. It is further mentioned in the FIR that revisionist no.1 lodged a false case against O.P. No.2 and others under Sections 498-A, 323, 504, 506 IPC and 3/4 D.P. Act and thereafter she had left her matrimonial home and started leaving with revisionist nos. 2 and 3 but subsequently both the parties settled the dispute, however, revisionist no.1 did not drop the case.
5. It is further mentioned in the FIR, on 20.06.2022 revisionist no.1 turned out O.P. No.2 and his wife from her matrimonial home but subsequently she permitted them to live in her matrimonial home. As per FIR, on 08.11.2022, revisionist no.1 called revisionist nos. 2 and 3 and her brother in her matrimonial home and badly insulted O.P. No.2 and thereafter O.P. No.2 and his wife again left the house and on 12.11.2022, O.P. No.2 received information that revisionist no.1 is making quarrel with his son and on 13.11.2022, he received information about the death of his son. According to FIR, son of O.P. No.2 committed suicide due to the abetment of revisionists.
6. After registration of the FIR, investigation was conducted and after investigation charge-sheet has been filed against revisionists and after submission of charge sheet, court concerned took the cognizance and thereafter case was committed to the court of sessions. Before trial court, revisionists filed discharge application but their discharge application has been dismissed vide impugned order dated 19.10.2023. Hence, instant revision.
Submission advanced on behalf of revisionists
7. Learned counsel for the revisionists submitted that revisionist no.1 is the wife of the deceased while revisionist nos. 2 and 3 are his mother-in-law and father-in-law respectively. He further submitted that as per allegation, due to abetment of the revisionists, son of O.P. No.2 i.e. husband of revisionist no.1 committed suicide by hanging himself but allegation of abetment levelled against them is totally false.
8. He further