Karnataka High Court: Prosecution for instigating wife's suicide cannot be quashed post chargesheet
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has ruled that the charge of abetment to suicide against a husband can only be properly evaluated in a full trial after evidence is presented. The decision was made by Justice M. Nagaprasanna while refusing to quash the abetment to suicide charge under s. 306 IPC against Mayukh Mukherjee.
The case involves a couple who married in 2021 and relocated to Bengaluru. Following marital discord, the wife tragically committed suicide on February 24, 2023. Her father subsequently filed a complaint against her husband and in-laws. After investigation, the police filed a chargesheet solely against the husband under s. 498-A and s. 306 IPC.
Mukherjee sought to quash the charges, arguing that his wife suffered from depression and had not blamed him or his family in a video recorded before her death. However, the complainant’s counsel highlighted evidence from the victim’s diary and an audio recording, indicating that Mukherjee’s extramarital affair and alleged cruelty drove her to suicide.
The court, after reviewing the evidence, observed that the matter requires a full trial to determine the husband’s role in the suicide. It held that the factors indicating instigation are present and dismissed the petition.
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Karnataka bypolls: Over 60 per cent voter turnout in Bagalkot, Davanagere South till 5 pm
Bengaluru (PTI): Over 60 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in both Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, where bypolls were held on Thursday.
While the turnout in Bagalkot was 65.68 per cent, it was 63.04 per cent in Davanagere South.
While the ruling Congress faces the challenge of retaining both seats, the BJP aims to wrest them and deliver a setback to its rival, which is currently witnessing an "internal power struggle" over leadership.
The bypolls were necessitated due to the demise of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti (Bagalkot) and Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Davanagere South).
A total of over 2.59 lakh eligible voters are expected to cast their votes at around 319 polling stations in Bagalkot, where nine candidates are in the fray.
In Davanagere South, over 2.31 lakh eligible voters are expected to vote across 284 polling stations, with 25 candidates contesting.
The BJP has fielded former MLA and 2023 defeated candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath from Bagalkot, and a fresh face, Srinivas T Dasakariyappa, from Davanagere South.
The Congress has given tickets to family members of the late legislators in both constituencies. Bagalkot candidate Umesh Meti is the son of H Y Meti, while Samarth Mallikarjun from Davanagere South is the grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
