AJIT @ HARSHAD SIDDHARTH SHERE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Applicant is the husband of deceased Sanjana, who committed suicide by jumping on the railway track in front of a train on 07/05/2021. The Complainant i.e. the father of the deceased lodged a report in the police station on the very same day, which prompted the Investigating Agency to register C.R. No.225 of 2021 in Kurla Railway Police Station invoking sections 306, 498(A) read with Section 34 of the IPC. The Applicant along with his parents came to be arraigned as accused. On completion of investigation, charge-sheet has been filed. It is informed that Accused Nos.2 and 3 are already released on regular bail on filing of the charge-sheet.

(2.) With the assistance of learned counsel for the Applicant and learned A.P.P., I have perused the charge-sheet. The FIR is lodged by the Complainant, the father of the deceased, who has stated that the marriage of his daughter was solemnized with the Applicant on 19/05/2019 as per the rites and customs. It is stated that for some period of time, his daughter shared a happy relationship in the family, but she was subjected to harassment after three months of marriage. The in-laws of the deceased used to stay in Virar, but sometime, were on visiting terms with the couple, who had rented a house at Kannamwar Nagar. The allegations levelled are that her whole salary was taken by her in-laws and her mother in law used to live an affluent lifestyle at the cost of the deceased. General and vague allegations are levelled in the FIR and some discord is also made out in respect of the deceased not conceiving and certain tests being carried out.

(3.) The incident, which is projected as an incitement to commit suicide, took place on 05/05/2021. It is narrated by the Complainant that the Applicant objected to uploading of certain photographs by the deceased on social media. The Applicant confronted her in front of the Complainant and objected to the photographs not being proper. Though the Complainant alleges that they went to the police station when the Applicant threatened him and his daughter with certain drastic consequences, the record, shows that it is the Applicant, who went to the police station and lodged a NC alleging that he was threatened by the Complainant and the deceased. In order to pacify the discord, the deceased was asked to accompany the father and, accordingly, she visited her parental house. On the fateful day i.e. on 07/05/2021, she left for office and took her life by running herself on railway track in front of a running train and the Applicant was informed by the police about the same. It is in the backdrop of these allegations, the Applicant is chargesheeted for the offence punishable under Sections 306 and 498(A) of the IPC.