New Delhi, Sep 28 A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to a software engineer accused of abetting the suicide of his wife, saying that the allegations in the FIR were general in nature and the question of any specific act or conduct leading to her death would have to be examined during trial.
Special Judge Shailender Malik was hearing a bail plea filed by Sumit in the case registered at Paschim Vihar East police station in connection with the death of his wife Charul on August 27.
In an order, the court said, "This court finds that it is settled law that bail cannot be denied as a mark of punishment only by examining the allegations in the prosecution case."
According to the prosecution, police received a PCR call on August 27 and found Charul hanging from a fan at a house in Paschim Vihar.
Her father subsequently lodged a complaint alleging that she was harassed by her husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law over household and other issues.
The complaint alleged that Charul was married to Sumit on July 28, 2021. It also alleged that Sumit, who was working as a software engineer in Dubai, had taken her there for around three to four months before sending her back, saying she needed to study further.
The court noted that Charul had also left a suicide note making allegations against her husband and mother-in-law, including allegations of humiliation, beating and dowry-related harassment.
Seeking bail, Sumit argued that there was no specific overt act, proximate conduct or intentional act attributed to him which could constitute abetment or instigation.
The defence also relied on medical documents showing that Charul was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and was receiving treatment and medication.
The court said the medical documents indicated that she had been suffering from the mental ailment before her death and that it would have to be determined during trial whether the accused had committed any specific act or conduct which induced or instigated her to take the extreme step.
"Accused/ applicant being husband is stated to be a software engineer, material annexed with the bail application shows that he made all his efforts to provide all amenities of life including better health, etc," the judge said.
The court, while refraining from making detailed observations on the merits of the case, granted bail to Sumit on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety of the same amount.
He was directed to join the investigation when called, not tamper with evidence or influence prosecution witnesses and not leave the country without prior permission of the trial court.
