SC lets off woman in hubby’s suicide case

New Delhi: Harassed by a husband’s ‘ugly’ taunts, if a wife commits suicide within seven years of marriage, the man is sure to be booked under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code for harassing her in the matrimonial home. The reverse has happened. Within a week of marriage, a man committed suicide allegedly hurt by the ‘ugly’ and ‘impotent’ taunts of his wife. And the Supreme Court has let off the wife by upholding the quashing of her prosecution under Section 306 of IPC for allegedly abetting the suicide. A not-so-handsome Venkateswara was married to a fair-complexioned Shanti on May 29, 2004, at Tirupati. On the very next day of nuptials on June 2, Shanti allegedly abused Venkataswara, in the presence of his mother and sister, that her life was spoiled and that she did not accept the marriage. She was accused of having heckled her husband saying it was better to die rather than live with an impotent husband and spoil her life. The husband allegedly went into depression as she continued to taunt him as ‘ugly’ and humiliate him by her rude and unjust behaviour. He returned from Vijaywada to his native place on June 5 and the very next day left the house without informing anyone. On June 9, the family was informed by the Innakudurupet police that Venkataswara, who was staying in an assumed name in a hotel, had committed suicide. The police registered a case of abetment of suicide on the complaint of Venkataswara’s father, Rama Krishna. But the Andhra Pradesh High Court quashed the prosecution proceedings saying no case of abetment to suicide was made out against Shanti. The father then moved the Supreme Court in appeal. Dismissing his petition, a bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and M K Sharma said doubts arise about the veracity of the complaint as it was filed before the higher authorities two and a half months after the suicide. Finding that there was no suicide note left by the husband implicating his wife, the Bench refused to take note of the harsh words of the wife that allegedly led to the suicide. “It is fairly well-settled that words uttered in a fit of anger or emotion without any intention cannot be termed as instigation,” said Justice Pasayat, who wrote the judgment for the Bench upholding the quashing of proceedings against Shanti.

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