In Brief
Ranjeet Singh, who had guaranteed a loan for another, was harassed by Mahendra Awase (a debt collector) for repayment. After continued pressure via calls and visits, Ranjeet died by suicide. A suicide note mentioned Awase's harassment. The trial court framed charges under Section 306 IPC (abetment of suicide); the High Court upheld them. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that mere debt collection activities and heated exchanges, without intent to leave the victim with no option but suicide, do not constitute abetment. The Court emphasized the high threshold required for Section 306 and criticized casual invocation of this provision by police and lower courts.
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