Two acquitted of harassment and abetment to suicide

Colva: Additional sessions judge Kshama Joshi has acquitted Vinod Prabhu Velgekar and Pradeep Prabhu Velgekar in a case of harassment and abetment to suicide.

The prosecution alleged that Vaibhavi Khandeparkar, who married Vinod in Feb 2008, faced harassment from her husband and his family, driving her to suicide.

The court observed that the evidence presented by the prosecution failed to establish harassment or mental cruelty to the degree necessary to drive Khandeparkar to kill herself. Further, the court emphasised the lack of proof of intent on the part of the accused.

“To establish guilt under Sections 498A and 306 IPC, it must be shown beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused directly instigated or created circumstances leading to the victim’s suicide. The evidence presented leaves room for doubt and cannot support such a conclusion,” the court said in its judgment.



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