The Bombay High Court today granted anticipatory bail to producer Rahul Raj Singh, accused of abetting the suicide of actress Pratyusha Banerjee, after observing that prima facie there is no evidence to show that the accused “instigated or intended” the suicide.
“From the statements of witnesses, it is clearly seen that harassment and disputes were there between the applicant accused (Rahul) and the victim (Pratyusha). But prima facie, there is nothing on record to show abetment,” Justice Mridula Bhatkar said.
The court was hearing the application filed by Rahul seeking pre-arrest bail after the sessions court rejected his plea. The high court, while granting his application, directed Rahul to appear before the Bangur Nagar police, which is probing the case, thrice a week for two weeks.
“For an offence to be made out under section 306 of IPC (abetment to suicide) there should be instigation, intentional aid or an intent that the person should commit suicide. It is necessary to show whether the accused had mens rea (intention),” the court said.
It added that harassment or disputes can be a reason for a person to not like another person and take steps to end his or her life. “For that person, the behaviour of the other person may be the cause of his or her death. However, for an offence of abetment to be proved, there should be evidence to show instigation, provocation and intention,” the court said.
Justice Bhatkar further said that how a person will react to the situation is unpredictable and sensitivity differs from one person to another. “Under such circumstances, unless the intention of the person held responsible for the suicide is brought on record prima facie, it cannot be said that it is abetment,” the judge said.
The court in its chamber during the day heard the last telephonic conversation between Rahul and Pratyusha recorded on April 1 an hour before the actress committed suicide.
“Throughout the conversation, the applicant accused is asking the victim (Pratyusha) not to take any drastic steps and assured her that he would return home immediately. After perusing all the facts of the case, this court is prima facie of the view that the police can investigate the case without any custodial interrogation of the accused,” the court said.
Special Public Prosecutor Nilesh Pawaskar, while seeking Rahul’s custody, told the court that the police, after an initial probe, were looking into if murder charges were applicable in the case.
“We are confused and still seeing if section 302 of IPC is applicable. The probe has revealed that the accused is a drug addict. We want to see if he is also a peddler and had administered drugs to the victim. Several other girls have approached the police saying that they had been duped in the past by Rahul,” Pawaskar said.
