‘Harassed’ man ends life in Australia, wife booked in India

Bathinda: The wife of a Punjab native, Sarabjit Singh, who killed self in Australia, was booked under charges of abetment of suicide at Mehal Kalan police station in Barnala district. Even as the incident happened in Australia, the case was registered in India after the victim's family approached the police and asserted that Sarabjit took the extreme step after continuous harassment by his wife, who is a native of Punjab. Ranjit Singh of Mehal Kalan in Barnala had filed a complaint to the police on Oct 15, 2035, stating that his son, Sarabjit Singh, committed suicide in Australia after being harassed by his wife, Sukhjit Kaur, originally from Dhurkot Ransih village in Moga district. He stated that Sarabjit Singh solemnised marriage with Sukhjit Kaur nearly 12 years ago. Sukhjit Kaur cleared the IELTS, and both migrated to Australia, where they had 2 sons. Ranjit Singh alleged that his daughter-in-law wanted to get rid of his son and told him that he was called for an interview for an extension of his visa in June 2025. When he went for the interview on June 17, 2025, he learnt that the interview was not for a visa, but that his wife forwarded an application for his deportation from Australia, and he was taken to a detention centre. Sarabjit Singh approached his lawyer, who further approached Sukhjit Kaur, but she did not answer the queries. Ranjit Singh alleged that, in the meantime, Sukhjit Kaur transferred all the money in their joint account to her name and also got property papers in her name. When Sarabjit Singh spoke to his wife, she further harassed him and asked him to leave, or she would get him arrested. She also allowed Sarabjit to meet his sons only 2 times. Ranjit Singh alleged that in Sept 2025, he, along with his wife, went to Canada to his daughter, and there his son, while talking on the phone on Sept 27, was highly tense. After some time, when they again tried to talk to him, the phone remained unanswered, and when they approached his friend, it was known that he died. The family brought his dead body to India and filed a complaint against Sukhjit Kaur and her mother Inderjit Kaur, sister Harjit Kaur, brother Jasdeep Singh, and uncle (Taya) Buta Singh, who are residing in Canada, for supporting Sukhjit Kaur. Barnala SSP Sarfaraz Alam, speaking to TOI, said that "going by the complaint, when the police sought legal opinion, the legal officer opined that as per the complaint moved by Ranjit Singh, both the deceased (Sarbjit Singh) and the accused (Sukhjit Kaur) were Indian citizens residing in Australia, and after analysis of law, Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (Section 1 BNS/Section 4 IPC) under Section 1(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (formerly Section 4 of the IPC), the provisions of the law apply to any offence committed by any citizen of India in any place without and beyond India. Since the deceased Sarabjit Singh and Sukhjit Kaur are Indian citizens, they remain subject to Indian criminal laws regardless of their place of residence (Australia)." "Criminal Procedure (Section 184 BNSS / Section 188 CrPC) Section 184 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (formerly Section 188 of the CrPC) specifically deals with offences committed outside India. It states that when an offence is committed outside India by a citizen of India, he may be dealt with in respect of such offence as if it was committed at any place within India at which he may be found. After going through the record, an offence is legally maintainable in India against Sukhjit Kaur under Section 108 BNS by virtue of her Indian citizenship. However, the evidentiary burden is high, and procedural compliance regarding Central govt sanction and international cooperation is mandatory. If approved, a case may be registered against Sukhjit Kaur. Going by the legal opinion, a case was registered against Sukhjit Kaur, and further investigations are being made about the role of others". MSID:: 126544536 413 |