SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2026 Supreme(Online)(All) 1088

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
Sameer Jain, J
SUNIL GUPTA – Appellant
Versus
STATE OF U.P. – Respondent
CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 14154 of 2026



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Amit Kumar, Gaurav Tiwari
For the Respondents: G.A.

In cases of alleged dowry death, if the post-mortem suggests suicide and the accused provides a probable reason for the suicide, bail should generally be granted, adhering to the principle that bail is the rule and jail is the exception.

Headnote:The case involves allegations under Sections 80(2) and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (B.N.S.) and Section 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The applicant, the husband of the deceased, was accused of torture for a demand of Rs. 50,000/-, leading to the deceased's suicide by hanging within 2-1/2 years of marriage. The court found that the post-mortem report indicated death by hanging with no other injuries and an intact hyoid bone, suggesting a prima facie case of suicidal death. The primary issue is whether the applicant is entitled to bail given the circumstances of the death. The court reasoned that where a prima facie case of suicide exists and the husband or family provides a probable reason for such suicide—supported in this case by a prior compromise agreement where the deceased admitted to her short-tempered nature—bail should not be withheld. Accordingly, the instant bail application is allowed.

Table of Content
1. presentation of case facts and parties' arguments regarding the circumstances of the death and the applicant's conduct. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7)
2. court evaluates post-mortem evidence and a prior compromise agreement to determine the probability of suicide. (Para 8 , 9 , 10 , 11)
3. application of the principle that bail is the rule and jail is the exception in suicide cases with probable cause. (Para 12 , 13 , 14)
4. granting of bail with specific conditions and clarification that observations do not affect the trial's merits. (Para 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19)

1. Heard Sri Gaurav Tiwari, learned counsel for the applicant, Sri Kunwar Tejendra Bahadur Singh, learned AGA for the State.

2. The instant bail application has been filed seeking release of the applicant on bail in Session Trial No. 82 of 2026 arising out Case Crime No.0171 of 2025, under Sections 80(2), 85 B.N.S. and Section 3 /4 D.P. Act , Police Station Anpara, District Sonbhadra, during pendency of the trial.

3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits, however, applicant is husband of the deceased but on the basis of false allegation he has been made accused in the present matter.

4. He further argued actually deceased was highly sensitive and short tempered lady and, therefore, very often on minor matrimonial issues she used to create scene and, therefore, very often dispute arose between husband and wife and their matrimonial relationship was not cordial and earlier when matrimonial dispute arose between husband and wife then mater travelled upto to local police and before the police on 11.7.2025 a compromise was executed between deceased and applicant which has been annexed at page 63 of the paper book and this compromise clearly suggests deceased used to quarrel in her matrimonial home and she admitted this fact and even assured that in future she will peacefully live along with the applicant but unfortunately deceased could not change herself and again started quarrel with the applicant and his family members and when one day applicant in frustration severely scolded her then she in rash and anger committed suicide by hanging but after her death on the basis of false allegation her brother lodged F.I.R. of the present case.

5. He further submits, post mortem report of the deceased also suggests she died due to hanging and apart from the ligature mark she did not sustain any other injury and even her hyoid bone was found intact and, therefore, prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicidal death.

6. He further submits, applicant is not having any criminal history and in the present matter he is in jail since 18.10.2025 i.e. for last more than 6-1/2 months.

7. Per contra, learned AGA, however, opposed the prayer for bail but could not dispute the argument on facts advanced by learned counsel for applicant.

8. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record of the case.

9. However, applicant is husband of the deceased and his wife died in her matrimonial home under abnormal circumstances within 2-1/2 years of her marriage and there is also allegation of torture for demand of Rs. 50,000/-, but post mortem report suggests deceased died due to hanging and apart from the ligature mark she did not sustain any other injury and even her hyod bone was found intact and, therefore, prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicidal death.

10. Further, as per applicant deceased was short tempered lady and she used to quarrel in her matrimonial home and only due to her nature, on minor matrimonial issue, she committed suicide by hanging and to demonstrate the truth of his defence, along with the instant bail application applicant also annexed a compromise dated 11.07.2025 executed between the applicant and the deceased. This compromise has not been controverted by learned A.G.A. From the compromise it reflects deceased admitted his mistake and stated that in future she will peacefully live along with the applicant in her matrimonial

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top