Court asks petitioner to move on

Fourteen-and-half-years after his fiancé’s death, the Bombay High Court has asked Nashik-based advocate to let bygones be bygones and try and lead a normal life with his wife.

Fourteen-and-half-years after his fiancé’s death, the Bombay High Court has asked Nashik-based advocate to let bygones be bygones and try and lead a normal life with his wife.

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Nilesh Rathi (27) and his family members were booked for abetting his fiancé’s suicide. They were accused of demanding dowry.

“Your pain and anguish can be understood, but more than 14 years have passed. Don’t get engaged in another round of litigation which will go on for years,” said Justice S.C. Dharmadhikari.

Nilesh, a practising advocate from Nashik, had filed petition in the HC seeking that criminal compliant be lodged against his fiance’s parents who allegedly caused her death in 1995. On July 8, 1995, Ujjwala was found unconscious and later died. Her post-mortem report revealed that she had consumed poison.

Ujjwala’s family lodged a complaint, alleging she committed suicide because of dowry demands by the Rathis.

Nilesh, his father Bankatlal (50) and mother Chanda (45) were arrested. Seven years after Ujjwala’s death, the police found some letters suggesting that she ended her life because of her parents. A handwriting expert established the writing to be Ujjwala’s.

The Rathis were let off by the trial court in 2002. Nilesh moved the HC seeking criminal proceedings against her parents.