Smt Lakshmi Bai Dangore vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh

NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-JBP:67721
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
AT JABALPUR

BEFORE
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE HIMANSHU JOSHI
st
ON THE 1 OF SEPTEMBER, 2026
WRIT PETITION No. 18696 of 2026
SMT LAKSHMI BAI DANGORE
Versus
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS
Appearance:
Shri Santosh Anand - Advocate for the petitioner.
Smt. Priyanka Mishra- Government Advocate for the respondents/
State.
ORDER
By this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the
petitioner seeks a direction for fair and proper investigation into
Merg/Inquest Intimation No.06/2025 dated 13.07.2025, Police Station
Kotwali, District Burhanpur, concerning the death of her son Pawan, and for
appropriate action upon her representations submitted before the superior
police authorities.
2. The petitioner, aged about 66 years, is the mother of deceased Pawan.
According to the petition, Pawan died in the intervening night of 12.07.2025
and 13.07.2025 in Room No.103 of Hotel Mid Town, Gujarati Market,
Burhanpur. On information furnished by the hotel manager, Merg/Inquest
Intimation No.06/2025 was registered at Police Station Kotwali, Burhanpur.
The post-mortem examination was conducted on 13.07.2025 and, as per the
Signature Not Verified
Signed by: REENA
HIMANSHU SHARMA
Signing time: 07-09-2026
17:58:06

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report filed as Annexure-P/3, the cause of death was asphyxia as a result of

hanging.
3. The petitioner alleges that before death, the deceased uploaded a video
on his Facebook account in which he named Rachana Ingle, stated to be his
wife, Poonam Chand Ingle, stated to be her father, and Jai Ingle and Sagar
Ingle, stated to be her relatives, and attributed responsibility to them for the
circumstances leading to his death. The petitioner states that she thereafter
repeatedly approached the police authorities. Representations were submitted
before the Superintendent of Police, Burhanpur on 12.08.2025, the Chief
Minister on 11.09.2025 and the Inspector General of Police, Khargone on
23.10.2025. Copies are collectively filed as Annexure-P/4.
4. It is further stated that Krishna Kumar, brother of the deceased, sought
information regarding the investigation under the Right to Information Act
and, vide reply dated 29.03.2026, Police Station Kotwali informed him that
the investigation was still under process. The said reply is Annexure-P/5. The
petitioner alleges that despite repeated approaches, no effective investigation
has been conducted and that the matter has been treated merely as a
matrimonial dispute. It is also alleged that there are allegations against a
police Sub-Inspector, giving rise to apprehension of an unfair investigation.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the alleged video made
by the deceased immediately before his death is important material which
requires proper investigation. The police could not have closed the matter
merely by recording the death as suicide. It is submitted that the authenticity
of the video, its contents, the conduct of the persons named therein and the
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Signed by: REENA
HIMANSHU SHARMA
Signing time: 07-09-2026
17:58:06

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circumstances preceding the death ought to have been examined. It is

therefore prayed that a fair and impartial investigation be directed.
6. Learned Government Advocate opposes the petition and submits that the
Merg inquiry is already under investigation and no conclusion regarding
commission of an offence can be drawn merely on the basis of the
allegations made by the petitioner. It is further submitted that the petitioner
has an efficacious statutory remedy before the competent Magistrate if she is
aggrieved by the manner of investigation.
7. Heard the parties through their counsels and perused the material
available on record.
8. In the present case, the death of the petitioner's son occurred on
13.07.2025 and a Merg/Inquest Intimation was registered. The petitioner has
placed on record the post-mortem report as Annexure-P/3. More importantly,
she has placed on record a transcript of an alleged video made by the
deceased prior to his death, wherein certain persons have allegedly been
named and allegations have been attributed to them. Whether the video is
genuine, whether it was actually uploaded by the deceased, whether the
transcript correctly reproduces its contents, and whether the allegations
contained therein constitute abetment of suicide or any other cognizable
offence are matters which necessarily require investigation. At this stage, this
Court cannot either accept the allegations as proved or reject them without
investigation.
9. The fact that the death was prima facie a case of suicide by hanging also
does not, by itself, bring the matter to an end. Where material is brought
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HIMANSHU SHARMA
Signing time: 07-09-2026
17:58:06

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before the police suggesting that the deceased may have been subjected to

conduct which could have contributed to or facilitated the commission of
suicide, the investigating agency is required to examine such material in
accordance with law.
10. Another circumstance which cannot be ignored is that the petitioner
claims to have approached the Superintendent of Police, the Inspector
General of Police and other authorities through written representations,
copies of which have been filed as Annexure-P/4. The reply dated
29.03.2026, filed as Annexure-P/5, indicates that the investigation was still
stated to be under process at that stage.
11. In these circumstances, this Court is of the considered opinion that the
ends of justice would be met by directing the Superintendent of Police,
Burhanpur, to ensure that the investigation is conducted by a responsible
police officer, preferably not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of
Police, who shall be independent of the officer against whom allegations
have been made in the petition.
12. It is clarified that this Court is not directing registration of any
particular offence or holding that any person named by the petitioner is guilty
of abetment of suicide or any other offence. The competent investigating
agency shall independently examine the entire material and, if the facts and
material collected disclose commission of a cognizable offence, shall take
appropriate action in accordance with law. The exercise directed herein shall
be undertaken objectively and without being influenced by any observations
made in this order. The petitioner shall be at liberty to furnish any further
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Signed by: REENA
HIMANSHU SHARMA
Signing time: 07-09-2026
17:58:06

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material in her possession to the investigating officer.

13. Consequently, the petition is disposed of with the following directions:

(i) The Superintendent of Police, Burhanpur, shall ensure that the
investigation/inquiry arising out of Merg/Inquest Intimation
No.06/2025 dated 13.07.2025, Police Station Kotwali, District
Burhanpur, is conducted fairly, impartially and expeditiously.
(ii) The investigation shall be entrusted to a responsible officer,
preferably not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police,
other than any officer against whom allegations of bias or
involvement have been specifically raised.
(iii) The investigating officer shall examine the alleged video
uploaded by the deceased, its authenticity and source, the original
electronic record and other relevant electronic evidence, besides
recording the statements of relevant witnesses and examining all
circumstances preceding and surrounding the death.
(iv) The representations submitted by the petitioner, including
those dated 12.08.2025 and 23.10.2025, filed as Annexure-P/4,
shall also be taken into consideration.
(v) Upon completion of the requisite inquiry/investigation, if the
material discloses commission of a cognizable offence,
appropriate proceedings shall be initiated in accordance with law.
If no cognizable offence is found to have been made out, the
competent authority shall take a reasoned decision in accordance
with law.
(vi) The Superintendent of Police, Burhanpur, shall monitor the
progress of the investigation and ensure that the same is brought to
its logical conclusion expeditiously, preferably within a period of
three months from the date of production of a certified copy of
this order.

(HIMANSHU JOSHI)
JUDGE
Prachi

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Signed by: REENA
HIMANSHU SHARMA
Signing time: 07-09-2026
17:58:06