Man acquitted in abettment to suicide case

Thane: Thane sessions court has acquitted a 38-year-old man from Koparkhairne of Navi Mumbai who was charged for abetting her suicide as the prosecution failed to prove the charges.
Suresh Chikane was acquitted by additional sessions judge PM Gupta who was given the benefit of doubt and acquitted.
The prosecutor told the court that in February 2004, the accused was married to one Nanda and the couple lived in Koparkhairne. The accused was allegedly ill treating the victim on flimsy grounds and had demanded Rs 5 lakh for the construction of house, which she could not fulfil due to the weak financial condition of her parents. But due to consistent ill-treatment of the accused the victim who was fed up consumed pesticide on January 04, 2013 and died while being treated at a hospital the same day.
The counsel Adv. Aumkar Rajurkar appearing for the accused denied all the charges and vehemently contested the case.
The judge after hearing both sides, in his order pointed out, “..there is no cogent and reliable evidence that came from the prosecution to prove that the accused had consistently made illegal demand of money, and for fulfilling the said demand he had harassed or illtreated the deceased Nanda.” The judge further added, “..similarly, there is no positive or direct act on the part of the accused proximate to the occurrence of the incident which abetted her to commit suicide. Thus, the prosecution failed to prove that the accused had abetted or instigated the deceased to commit suicide, and that due to the said abetment or instigation, she committed suicide.”