Neetu Sahu v. State of Chhattisgarh
Case brief
What is this about?
Abetment of suicide; S.306 IPC; S.107 IPC; S.372 CrPC appeal against acquittal; S.313 CrPC statement; WhatsApp status suicide note; instigation requires mens rea and positive proximate act (Naresh Kumar, (2024) 3 SCC 573; Mallappa, (2024) 3 SCC 544; also referring Geo Varghese, Ramesh Kumar, S.S. Cheena, M. Arjunan, Ude Singh, Mariano Anto Bruno, Gurcharan Singh, Kashibai); no FIR/complaint of harassment; marriage of deceased's daughter solemnised 30/06/2021 without obstruction; acquittal legally sustainable; appeal dismissed; Chhattisgarh High Court (CGHC), decided 21/01/2026; Acq. A. No.-74 of 2024.
What did the court decide?
Although the deceased's WhatsApp status attributed his act to mental harassment by the accused, on appraisal of the evidence in light of the governing Supreme Court principles, the prosecution failed to prove that the accused's harassment caused the deceased to commit suicide, the evidence lacking the requisite clarity and consistency.