Broken relationship insufficient to charge man with abetment to suicide: Bombay HC
Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has ruled that a man cannot be held liable for abetting a woman’s suicide solely because their nine-year-long relationship ended. Discharging the man from the case, Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke observed that a broken relationship, by itself, does not amount to abetment to commit suicide.
The court's decision on January 15 came after the man was accused of provoking the woman to take her life. However, Justice Joshi-Phalke noted that the evidence, including an extensive suicide note and WhatsApp messages, revealed that the relationship was consensual. "The physical relations between them were developed out of love and were consensual," she stated.
The court highlighted that there was no evidence suggesting the man provoked or instigated the woman. "Merely refusing to marry her does not constitute instigation. At most, the applicant can be said to have ended the relationship," the court remarked.
The judge also pointed out that the woman’s suicide was not an immediate consequence of the breakup. She explained that the relationship ended in July 2020, but the woman died by suicide in December 2020. "There is no proximity or direct connection between the breakup and her decision to take her life," Justice Joshi-Phalke said.
The court overturned the decision of the Sessions Court at Khamgaon, Buldhana district, which had earlier refused to discharge the man. The Sessions Court had considered the deceased’s father’s argument that the breakup caused his daughter significant emotional distress, as detailed in her suicide note.
In his defence, the accused argued that the relationship was consensual and that the deceased continued to contact him even after the breakup. He contended that his refusal to marry her could not be considered abetment. The High Court agreed with his arguments and quashed the lower court’s order.
Justice Joshi-Phalke concluded that without evidence of provocation or instigation, a broken relationship alone cannot form the basis for a charge of abetment to suicide.
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Pak, India agree to immediate ceasefire, US says it mediated the truce
Washington, May 10 (PTI): President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that India and Pakistan have agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire after talks mediated by the US.
The US-brokered ceasefire came hours after militaries of India and Pakistan attacked each other’s military facilities, dangerously escalating the ongoing conflict.
"After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE," the US president announced in a post on Truth Social.
"Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump added.
The announcement by Trump came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir.
Rubio also made a similar statement on X.
"Over the past 48 hours, @VP Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Asim Malik," he said.
He said he was "pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site".
"We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace," he added.
Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the ceasefire with immediate effect.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2025
