Jaipur: Nearly seven years after a married woman died by suicide in Jaipur district, a Jaipur sessions court has acquitted her husband of charges of cruelty and abetment of suicide, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.The judgment was delivered on July 16 by the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Women Atrocities Cases, Jaipur Metropolitan-I. A copy of the order was uploaded Sunday.The case arose from an FIR registered at Sanganer Sadar police station after Anju Yadav alias Suman died by suicide at her matrimonial home on Sept 29, 2019. The prosecution alleged that she was subjected to dowry harassment and cruelty by her husband, Bablu Yadav, which drove her to take the extreme step. Police filed charges under Sections 498A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the IPC.Appearing for the accused, advocate Deepak Chauhan argued that the prosecution’s own witnesses weakened its case. He submitted that the deceased never lodged any complaint alleging dowry demand or harassment during her lifetime. He further contended that family members admitted she wanted to continue her studies and was under stress over her education.Chauhan also questioned the authenticity of the alleged suicide note, arguing that the investigation suffered from serious lapses in establishing its authorship and linking the handwriting samples and documentary evidence with the deceased.After examining the oral and documentary evidence, the court found material contradictions in the prosecution’s case. It held that the prosecution failed to establish the essential ingredients required to prove cruelty under Section 498A and abetment of suicide under Section 306 of the IPC. The court also noted deficiencies in the investigation relating to the alleged suicide note.Giving the accused the benefit of doubt, the court acquitted Bablu Yadav of all charges. It also directed that his bail bonds would remain in force in accordance with Section 437A of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
