In Brief
A young woman died after consuming organophosphate pesticide. The appellant was convicted under Section 306 IPC (abetment of suicide) based on allegations that he had harassed her with marriage proposals and threatened violence if refused. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and quashed the conviction. The Court found that the prosecution failed to establish the essential ingredients of abetment—active instigation and mens rea. Critical investigative gaps included non-recovery of the poison container or syringe, failure to examine treating doctors, unexplained source of poison, and inconsistent oral testimony from family witnesses. Without physical evidence completing the chain of circumstantial proof, and with mere allegations of harassment lacking proximate causation, conviction could not be sustained.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.