In Brief
A husband was convicted of subjecting his wife to cruelty (Section 498-A IPC) and abetting her suicide (Section 306 IPC) after she consumed pesticide two years into their marriage. During her lifetime, the wife had filed three complaints against him: for cruelty and criminal intimidation, for police intervention under the CrPC, and for maintenance. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction, holding that these multiple complaints, combined with suicide within the statutory seven-year period, provided sufficient evidence to presume abetment. The Court clarified that while the presumption under Section 113A of the Evidence Act is discretionary (not automatic), here the basic facts were proved beyond doubt, justifying both convictions and dismissing the husband's appeal."
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