Man denied bail for abetting wife’s suicide

Court took into consideration the complainant’s observation of the spot of death and his daughter’s corpse

In a case of dowry-related death and abetment to suicide of a 24-year-old woman, the father raised doubts, saying that her case isn’t of suicide. He supported his claim by bringing to court’s notice his observation about the spot of death and his daughter’s corpse. Taking into consideration his submissions, the Pune sessions court rejected bail plea of the accused, identified as Shripad Telgaonkar (28), a resident of Tapodham Colony in Talegaon Dabhade.

Shripad works with a private company. He married Rohini Dhumal (24) in April 2019. According to the complaint filed by Rohini’s father, Madhavrao Dhumal (55), who lives in Bhosari, Rohini’s in-laws and husband abused her physically and mentally over demands like fridge, television and furniture. They threatened her that if these demands remained unfulfilled, Shripad would divorce her.

On September 13, 2020, she died by suicide after she jumped from a building. The Talegaon-Dabhade police booked Shripad and his parents under sections 306 (abetment to suicide), 304B (dowry death), 498A (cruelty to a married woman), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

The police arrested Shripad in September 2020 and lodged him in Yerawada Central Prison. His parents were released on bail by the sessions court. Shripad filed for bail application on the ground that he is a member of reputed family. He emphasised that they did not demand anything from Rohini. He further claimed that the deceased has a stepmother, whose absence during ‘kanyadaan’ had stressed her. Shripad’s defence lawyer said, “The investigation of the case is completed. Therefore, the bail shall be granted,” he argued.

However, Rohini’s father raised doubts over the suicide and brought to the notice of the court how Shripad ill-treated her over demand of various household articles.

Advocate Aarti Joshi, who represented the Dhumals, said, “Even though the complainant provided them fridge and other items, they kept harassing her over the quality of those item. Shripad used to beat her under the influence of alcohol. During the lockdown, the accused had demanded furniture and threatened her shall the demand remain unmet. A day before committing suicide, she called her father and told about the ill treatment. On September 13, when the complainant and his son went to meet her, they arrived to her corpse. They were informed that she jumped from terrace, but the death is clearly suspicious and needs to investigate thoroughly.”

The advocate pointed out few observations made by the father of the deceased. “The body was not at the spot from where she fell down and accused was reluctant to show it. It raises serious doubt in our mind,” said the father, adding, “If the accused is released on bail at initial stage it would be injustice to Rohini.”

Taking cognisance of the points raised by the complainant, additional sessions judge MM Deshpande rejected Shripad’s bail plea.