BHARTENDRA Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is one of the two accused named in first information report [FIR] in Crime No.31/2014 dtd. 27/4/2014, registered with Police Station Karda, District Bhandara for the offence punishable under Sec. 306 of the Indian Penal Code. Though the crime was registered against two accused, however, this petition in terms of Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Sec. 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been filed by one namely Advocate Bhoyar, seeking quashing of the aforesaid FIR and charge-sheet filed in pursuance thereof.

(2.) Having regard to the prima facie material, initially this Court vide order dtd. 23/6/2014 directed that no coercive steps be taken against petitioner. Upon hearing the parties on 9/12/2014, this Court has issued Rule, as well as stayed the investigation of the aforesaid crime. Later on this Court wide order dtd. 6/12/2019 vacated the stay to the investigation. Again vide order dtd. 20/2/2020, prosecution was permitted to file charge-sheet, as well as, leave was granted to suitably amend the petition by adding the prayer for quashing of the charge-sheet. In consequence chargesheet came to be filed, as well as the petitioner has raised additional prayer for quashing of the charge-sheet.

(3.) The facts leading to the filing of this petition are that, on 13/4/2014 one Jayakumar Khobragade has consumed poisonous substance, and died on 14/4/2014, thus a case of suicide. On receipt of intimation, a case of accidental death was registered by the concerned Police on 14/4/2014. During enquiry, the investigating agency has conducted inquest Panchnama and sent dead body for postmortem examination. The medical officer has prima facie expressed the probable cause of death may be poisoning, however, viscera was preserved for final opinion. During the course of enquiry, the police have received a suicidal note forwarded by District Judge Bhandara. Brother-in-law of deceased has lodged a report on 27/4/2014 alleging that as per suicidal note petitioner was responsible for the death of Jayakumar. Informant has stated that the deceased Jayakumar was his brother-in-law, and working as Stenographer at Pauni Court, whereas wife of the deceased namely Anita [co-accused], was also serving as Stenographer in Bhandara Court. Informant stated that on 13/4/2014 around 8:30 a.m., the deceased Jayakumar along with his mother came to his house. Around 9 p.m. all of them had a dinner and deceased went on the upper floor to sleep. Around 10 p.m. deceased started vomiting on which he was admitted to the General Hospital for medical treatment, where he died on the following day i.e. on 14/4/2014 around 11 a.m. While the deceased was at the house of informant, he had handed over one sealed envelope addressed to the Judge, which the informant gave to the addressee on 16/4/2014. The said envelope was containing a suicidal note written by deceased. It was forwarded to the investigating agency. In the said suicidal note, the deceased alleged that the petitioner had induced his wife against him and instigated her to take divorce, therefore, petitioner is responsible for his suicide.