Accused Convicted for Persistent Harassment Leading to Victim's Suicide
The Chhattisgarh High Court, on July 17, 2026, reversed the acquittal of Mohd. Seraj, convicting him under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for abetment of suicide. The judgment was delivered by Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas, who found that continuous harassment and threats by the accused had instigated the deceased to take her own life. The court criticized the trial court's findings as perverse, highlighting the failure to appreciate direct evidence and cumulative circumstances presented by the prosecution.
The case revolved around the tragic suicide of a young woman, who was persistently harassed by the accused, Mohd. Seraj, to marry him. The deceased's mother, Rukmani Bai, testified about the harassment and threats, which were corroborated by medical evidence of prior suicide attempts by both the deceased and her mother. The trial court had earlier acquitted the accused, citing a lack of direct evidence linking the accused's actions to the suicide.
The appellate court, however, found substantial evidence of instigation and pressure exerted by the accused, which led the deceased to take the extreme step. The court emphasized that the accused's actions were not isolated incidents but part of a continuous course of conduct that constituted abetment under Section 107 of the IPC.
The judgment also addressed the powers of the appellate court under the Criminal Procedure Code and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to reverse an acquittal if the trial court's findings are inconsistent with the evidence on record. The court found that the trial court had ignored vital evidence and relied on a flawed interpretation of the law regarding abetment.
The Chhattisgarh High Court's decision underscores the importance of a thorough examination of evidence and the need for courts to ensure justice for victims of harassment and abetment to suicide. The matter is now set for a hearing on the sentence on July 27, 2026.
Bottom line:-
The Court reversed the acquittal of the respondent under Section 306 IPC, holding that continuous harassment and threats by the accused to the deceased for marriage amounted to abetment of suicide. The trial court's findings were deemed perverse due to its failure to properly appreciate direct evidence and cumulative circumstances.
Statutory provision(s): Indian Penal Code, 1860 Sections 306, 107; Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 Section 378; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 Section 427
State of Chhattisgarh v. Mohd. Seraj, (Chhattisgarh) : Law Finder Doc id # 2942412
