Pinnacle court denies bail to mother-in-law and sister-in-law over wife's suicide

06-06-2022

In its order passed last month, the court had observed that allegations within the FIR require an investigation and this wasn't a case where the applicants, who are accused of abetting suicide by a newly married missy, is released on bail contemplating their arrest

The Supreme Court Monday refused to grant anticipatory bail to the mother-in-law and sister-in-law of a girl, who had committed suicide after she complained that her husband was having an extramarital affair, saying they ought to have protected her instead of harassing her.

The apex court observed that the lady had died after two months of her marriage and there have been specific allegations that her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were harassing her.

A vacation bench of justices M R Shah and Aniruddha Bose passed the order while hearing the plea filed by both the ladies, who had challenged the Bombay tribunal order dismissing their applications seeking protection from arrest within the case.

During the hearing, when the counsel appearing for both the ladies, argued that there have been no allegations against them, the bench said, "allegations are there. Why are you saying there aren't any allegations?".

"There are specific allegations that the mother-in-law and also the sister-in-law were harassing me (woman). And on the contrary, when the allegations are made that my husband has extramarital relations, you must have protected her instead of harassing her. Where the newly wedded girl will go," the bench orally observed.

The counsel told the apex court that there was no direct allegation that these two women had compelled her to kill.

"Sorry. You surrender and apply for bail," the bench said, adding, "What about the woman who died within two months of her married life?" The bench observed that within the facts and circumstances of the case, no case for anticipatory bail was made out.

"Let the petitioners surrender within a period of 1 week from today and thereafter, may apply for normal bail," it said, adding that when regular bail applications would be filed, they might be considered in accordance with law and on their own merits.

In its order passed last month, the court had observed that allegations within the FIR require an investigation and this wasn't a case where the applicants, who are accused of abetting suicide by a newly married miss, are often released on bail contemplating their arrest.

The woman had committed suicide last month by consuming pesticide and a complaint was lodged by her father the following day.

The complaint had alleged that the lady had married in February this year and her husband was posted in Jammu.

It alleged that the girl had complained to her father about the affair of her husband and he or she had also stated that on this count, she was subjected to harassment by his relatives.

The supreme court had noted that as per the complaint lodged by her father, she had specifically narrated that her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were harassing her.