Wife’s Brother Said She Was Ill And Her Family Cared For Her; Karnataka HC Upholds Acquittal In Suicide-Abetment Case

The State alleged that, after approximately 12 years of marriage, accused No. 1 and other accused subjected Jayalakshmi to physical and mental cruelty, including telling her to go elsewhere and die.

Jayalakshmi died by suicide by hanging on 15 April 2009.

The accused were charged under Sections 498A and 306 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The Sessions Court acquitted them in S.C. No. 43 of 2010; the judgment gives inconsistent dates for that acquittal—28 January 2016 in the appeal prayer and 28 February 2016 in the body.

The State appealed under Section 378(1) and (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

The prosecution’s charges were under Sections 498A and 306 read with Section 34 IPC, while the State invoked the appellate jurisdiction under Section 378(1) and (3) CrPC.

The Court assessed whether the evidence on record disclosed a legal or factual error warranting interference with the acquittal.

Although the parties referred to authorities on appeals against acquittal and the treatment of hostile-witness testimony, the Court did not expressly rely on or apply any cited precedent in its reasoning.

The Court found that the material witnesses did not support the prosecution’s case.

PW1, the deceased’s brother, gave evidence supporting the complaint in chief, but in cross-examination stated that the accused and deceased were on cordial terms, that the deceased was looked after well, and that she had been suffering from illness before her death.

The Court noted that the other family members and neighbours examined as witnesses also did not support the prosecution.

On the record as a whole, it found no legal or factual error in the trial Court’s acquittal.

The Court dismissed the State’s appeal, leaving the acquittal undisturbed.

It also directed the Registry to pay ₹10,000 to the amicus curiae.