The Ashok Nagar police have taken Hemalatha (35), a physically challenged woman, into custody for trying to immolate herself in front of magistrate at the 11th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court on Tuesday. According to police, Hemalatha poured kerosene on herself inside the court hall to draw the magistrate’s attention demanding speedy trial in a cheating case filed by her in Viveknagar police station in 2008.
Hemalatha, who works at a garment factory, had filed a complaint against her sister-in-law Sumalatha. She alleged that, since she was living alone and was illiterate, Hemalatha took help of Sumalatha in bank matters. Hemalatha had deposited Rs. 1.2 lakh in the Victoria Layout branch of the State Bank of Hyderabad.
Sumalatha after frequenting the bank with her many times, forged her signature and withdrew all of her money, Hemalatha alleged.
The Viveknagar police, who had registered the case, had investigated the matter and submitted the charge sheet before the court. When Hemalatha was summoned for hearing on Tuesday, she tried to immolate herself. The judge had directed the police to take her into the custody, the police said.
Ashok Nagar police have booked a case under section 309 of the Indian Penal Code for attempting suicide. “She will be produced before the magistrate shortly,” they added.
