‘Perverted’ husband acquitted

The SC acquits a “sexually perverted” husband, whose wife committed suicide allegedly due to his demands for unnatural sex, reports Satya Prakash.

The Supreme Court on Monday acquitted a “sexually perverted” husband, whose wife poisoned their two daughters and committed suicide allegedly due to his demands for unnatural sex. A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and P Sathasivam held that the husband’s act did not amount to abetment of suicide as defined under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code.

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“In cases of alleged abetment of suicide, there must be proof of direct or indirect acts of incitement to the commission of suicide. The mere fact that the husband treated the deceased wife with cruelty is not enough,” the court said.

Meera, of Faridabad, had left a suicide note alleging her husband Mohan (both names changed) used to torture her for sex. She also alleged he was impotent and trying to defame her by accusing her of having a lesbian relationship. She said that tired of his conduct, she took the extreme step.

The forensic report confirmed all three deaths were due to consumption of poison and the trial court convicted Mohan of abetment of suicide and sentenced him to seven years rigorous imprisonment.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court confirmed the trial court’s verdict. Mohan then moved the Supreme Court, which held that the accused was a sexual pervert but that was not sufficient to satisfy the requirement of Section 306.

With inputs from Bhadra Sinha