Mumbai: Rejecting the discharge pleas of two money lenders, the Bombay High Court said continuous verbal and physical abuse and repeated demand for return of money amounts to abetment of suicide.
Justice A.M. Badar was recently hearing a petition filed by Gurunath Gawli and Sangita Gawli, both licensed money lenders, seeking discharge from a case of abetment of suicide. The duo were accused of assaulting and intimidating Umesh Bomble, a city resident, and abetting his suicide in September 2014. His wife, Sunita, had filed complaint.
According to the prosecution, the victim had taken a loan of ₹19 lakh from the accused. When he failed to repay, the duo allegedly harassed him and on various occasions verbally abused and even assaulted him. “A prudent family man, when meted out such treatment day in and day out, would certainly think of committing suicide,” Justice Badar said.
“The conduct of the accused persons in assaulting the deceased for getting back the loan amount appears to be wilful and its gravity seems to propel or compel a person of ordinary prudence to commit suicide,” the court said. It noted that continuously attacking a family man, both verbally and physically, in the presence of his family members at his home and at work place amounts to “instigation and provocation” to commit suicide.
“Cornered to a wall by such behaviour of the accused, the victim Umesh was bound to think that it is better to die rather than suffer such humiliations in front of his children and other family members,” Justice Badar said while dismissing the plea.
