CRIMINAL LAW ROUNDUP: A quick recap of the top criminal cases from March 2025
Top criminal cases on quashing of proceedings, arrest, bail, acquittal, and more.
abetment to suicide
‘Suicide note did not reveal any serious fight in recent past’; Punjab and Haryana HC grants anticipatory bail to wife accused of abetting husband’s suicide
The Court stated that the Trial Court would examine whether the deceased took a drastic step of ending his life due to the regular and constant instigation of the accused or due to the weakness of his mental health.
S. 306 IPC | SC acquits family of four accused of abetting man’s suicide by blackmailing him and trapping in love affair
“Even if the suicide note is taken as correct and genuine, there was no act of incitement on the part of the accused persons proximate to the date on which the deceased committed suicide.”
Grounds of arrest must be served in writing simultaneously with arrest memo; Delhi High Court grants bail in abetment to suicide case
On perusal of the arrest memo shows that though there is column providing for ‘reasons of arrest’ against which it is stated “for the purpose of fair investigation” but neither there is column for ‘grounds of arrest’ in the arrest memo nor it is the case of the prosecution that the ‘grounds of arrest’ were separately served upon the present petitioner at the time of his arrest.”
S. 306 IPC | SC grants anticipatory bail to wife accused of abetting husband’s suicide
The husband and wife were married for about one and a half year, and due to continuous quarrels, the wife started living in her parental home along with their 6-month-old daughter at the time of the incident. During this period, the husband committed suicide.
Top Criminal Law Cases of 2024: Important decisions by High Courts across India
From Arvind Kejriwal’s bail to Atul Subhash case, cruelty to money laundering, maintenance to drugs, this legal round up will act as a quick summary of all the important criminal law cases of 2024.
Madras High Court refuses to quash abetment case against Hostel warden in Thanjavur Schoolgirl Suicide case
Madras High Court highlighted that the truth of the dying Declaration cannot be tested by this court while exercising the jurisdiction under Section 482 CrPC
HIGH COURT DECEMBER 2024 WEEKLY ROUNDUP | Stories on Harsh Beniwal; Swarn Rekha River Revival Project; Sabarimala Pilgrimage; and more
A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from all High Courts this week.
‘Statements in charge-sheet, too far-fetched and fall short of any instigation/incitement’; Bombay HC sets aside abetment to suicide case against a Judicial Officer
To attract the offence under Section 3061 of the Penal Code, 1860, clear mens rea to commit the offence must be established on applicant-accused’s part, as it requires active/direct act, leading the deceased to commit suicide.
‘Making wife sleep on carpet not cruelty’; Bombay HC sets aside conviction u/s 306 IPC against husband and in-laws
To apply Section 3061 of the Penal Code, 1860, it is expected of prosecution to demonstrate that there is live link/active role played by appellant in instigating the suicide.
HIGH COURT NOVEMBER 2024 WEEKLY ROUNDUP| Stories on North-East Delhi Riots; Siddha Medicine; Spousal Privacy and more
A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from all High Courts this week
Heated exchange between couple/family members over meal preparation not sufficient to prove abetment to suicide: J&K High Court
The Court stated that the presumption under Section 114-C of the Evidence Act regarding dowry deaths could not be applied without credible evidence of dowry harassment.
Mere occasional harassment or misbehavior does not amount to abetment to suicide: MP High Court
“Abetment requires a mental process of instigating or aiding a person in committing an act. Without a positive act of instigation or aiding, a charge under Section 306 IPC cannot be sustained.”
‘Momentary disagreement leading person to take extreme actions cannot be termed as abetment to suicide’; Calcutta HC quashes pending proceedings u/S. 306 of IPC
To constitute an offence under Section 306 of the Penal Code, there should be instances of abetment under Section 107.
Wife attending midnight calls from unknown numbers despite husband’s objections; Not abetment to suicide as defined in S.107, IPC: J&K and Ladakh HC
The Court opined that this was a clear case where based on evidence collected by the Investigating Officer, respondent may, be held responsible for the deceased’s suicide, yet it cannot be said that the suicide committed by the deceased was abetted by the respondent.
Utterances such as “go and hang yourself” spoken while venting out anger, can’t become an ingredient for abetment to suicide under S. 306, IPC: Karnataka HC
The Court quashed proceedings for abetment of suicide initiated against the husband who told a Priest of Church “to go hang himself” for having an illicit affair with his wife.
A woman cannot be held liable for abetment to suicide, if a lover commits suicide due to love failure: Delhi High Court
The allegation with respect to applicants teasing the deceased in regard to the failure of his romantic relationship with applicant does not appear to be instigation which would amount to abetment of suicide in terms of Section 306 of the Penal Code, 1860.
Trivial domestic disputes do not necessarily constitute ‘Abetment to Suicide’: Madhya Pradesh High Court
Madhya Pradesh High Court noted that wife compelling the husband to do household chores, not preparing food on time, going to the market for shopping purposes, etc., are trivial dispute within domestic life.
‘Suicide note written weeks before suicide’: Kerala HC says bickering and quarrels not instigation while quashing abetment to suicide case against wife
“The essence of the offence of abetment of suicide is not what the deceased felt but what the accused intended.”
Can breaking up and advising a partner to marry someone else amount to abetment to suicide? Supreme Court answers
Supreme Court remarked that broken relationships and heart breaks are part of everyday life.