Bail may be granted to a co-accused on the grounds of parity and medical evidence suggesting suicide, particularly when the short duration of marriage makes allegations of dowry-related torture less probable.

1. Heard Sri Om Prakash Gupta, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri Kunwar Tejandra Bahadur, learned AGA for the State.

2. The instant bail application has been filed seeking release of the applicant on bail in Case Crime No. 21 of 2026, under Sections 80(2), 85 BNS and Section 3 /4 D.P. Act , Police Station Vishunpura, District Kushinagar during pendency of the trial.

3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits, applicant is mother-in-law of the deceased and on the basis of false allegation she has been made accused in the present matter along with others including father-in-law of the deceased Pramod Jaiswal and co-accused Pramod Jaiswal has been released on bail by this Court with a very detailed and reasoned order dated 23.04.2026 passed in Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 7442 of 2026 and as far as allegations are concerned, the case of applicant is at par with him.

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

5. He further submits, though deceased died within two months of her marriage in her matrimonial home but this fact itself suggests that actually it is not a case of dowry death as it is hard to believe that in such a short span she would have tortured for dowry in such manner that she had to commit suicide.

6. He further submits, it reflects, after marriage deceased either could not cope up with her matrimonial duties or against her wishes her marriage was performed with the son of applicant, therefore, she committed suicide.

7. He further submits, applicant is not having any criminal history and there is no specific allegation against her and in the present matter she is in jail since 20.01.2026.

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

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

10. However, applicant is mother-in-law of the deceased and her daughter-in-law died within two months of her marriage in her matrimonial home under abnormal circumstances and there is also allegation of torture for demand of additional jewellery and money but post mortem report suggests that deceased died due to hanging and apart from the ligature mark deceased did not sustain any other injury and even her hyoid bone was found intact, therefore, prima facie it appears to be a case of suicidal death and considering the short duration of marriage, the argument advanced by learned counsel for applicant in this regard cannot be ruled out at this stage.

11. Further, even father-in-law of the deceased Pramod Jaiswl has been released on bail by this Court and as far as allegations are concerned case of applicant is at par with him.

12. Further, there is no specific allegation against applicant and applicant is not having any criminal history and she is lady and in the present matter she is in jail since 20.01.2026.

13. Therefore, considering the facts and circumstances of the case discussed above, in my view, applicant is entitled to be released on bail.

14. Accordingly, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the instant bail application is allowed

15. Let the applicant - Meena Devi be released on bail in the aforesaid case on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the