Sonal Bhargava | Edited by Prabhat Bandhulya

The Bombay High Court recently granted anticipatory bail to a pregnant woman booked for abetting her husband's suicide. According to single-judge Justice Milind Jadhav, the woman was in the 25th week of her pregnancy and should not be put under any stress. The woman was facing arrest in connection with a criminal complaint filed against her in Pune on April 16. The Court was hearing an anticipatory bail application filed by her. The dead Rahul and the petitioner were married for eight months when Rahul's body was discovered near railway lines in Pune, according to the facts of the case. He allegedly wrote a suicide note stating that his wife had betrayed him and that she should be held responsible for his death. According to the first information report (FIR), the husband was upset with the wife because she was often on the phone with someone. "That said person is yet to be identified. It could be either some person from her family, her parents, her siblings or any third person. It is to be understood that at that time, the applicant was already 3.5 months pregnant. There are phone numbers given in the alleged dying declaration (written note) which requires investigation by the prosecution," the bench noted. In his order dated May 30, Justice Jadhav stated that the offence filed against the applicant was a serious one that may result in a sentence of ten years in prison if she is convicted. The Court further stated that, due to her physical condition, she may be required to visit the hospital on a frequent basis and will require sufficient treatment and rest. While granting anticipatory bail, the judge stated that the prosecution and the Investigating Officer may always assure her attendance, and that if the necessity arises, the Investigating Officer can also visit her due to her medical condition.
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