MUTHU PRASAD Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Criminal Petition has been filed by the petitioner/A5, seeking anticipatory bail, in connection with Crime No.49 of 2025 of II Town Police Station, Visakhapatnam.

(2.) A case has been registered against the petitioner herein and others for the offence punishable under Ss. 108 and 351(3) r/w 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

(3.) The brief facts of the case are that on 6/3/2025 at 10.30 p.m., the complainant, husband of the deceased Suguna, reported an incident at their home, which was filed on 7/3/2025 at 10.00 a.m. The complainant stated that his wife had borrowed Rs.1,00,000.00 from a marginally noted accused and had been paying Rs.20,000.00 per month as interest. The loan was later cleared, but the accused escalated the loan amount to Rs.30,00,000.00, citing compound interest. The accused also threatened to ruin the family's reputation and harm the husband if the debt was not repaid. Additionally, A2 borrowed Rs.1,00,000.00 from the A1 in the name of the deceased and pressured her to pay the interest. On 6/3/2025, the complainant kept Rs.1,00,000.00 in the house, went to the Fishing Harbour, and returned at 8.00 p.m. He found the accused at his home, but his wife was missing. When questioned, they claimed she hadn"t repaid the loan. The complainant noticed Rs.1,00,000.00 was missing and sent the accused away, stating his wife had gone to their house. At 10.00 p.m., unable to reach his wife, he contacted the A1, who confirmed his wife hadn"t arrived there. After 10 minutes, he received a phone call from them stating that his wife committed suicide to the ceiling fan in their house. Immediately, he along with his brother-in-law rushed to spot at 10.45 p.m. and noticed his wife was found hanging to ceiling fan and hence he lodged report that the unable to bear the torture/harassment mounted by the accused, deceased took extreme step of committed suicide in accused house and ended her life.