Mumbai, February 13, 2024: The City Civil and Sessions Court of Greater Bombay granted bail to Mohan Gopal Dandge, a 23-year-old accused in a case of abetment of suicide under Sections 306 and 498-A of the Indian Penal Code. The bail was approved by Additional Sessions Judge Dr. Gauri Kawdikar in Court Room No. 41.
Case Background
The case, registered as Crime No. 05/2024 at Pantnagar Police Station, pertains to the alleged suicide of Dandge’s wife. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the deceased and the accused had eloped to marry against their families’ wishes on February 17, 2022. They had a child together, born on December 28, 2022. However, disputes persisted between the deceased’s family and the accused, leading to multiple non-cognizable complaints being filed by both sides.
On January 1, 2024, Dandge allegedly called the complainant, the mother of the deceased, informing her that her daughter had ingested poison. The complainant attempted to talk to her daughter, who confirmed that she had consumed rat poison. Despite medical intervention, she succumbed to poisoning on January 2, 2024. An FIR was lodged the following day.
Arguments and Court Observations
During the bail hearing, the defense, represented by Advocate Rohit R. Gangurde, contended that the FIR was false and concocted, emphasizing the previous enmity between the accused and the complainant’s family. It was argued that there were no direct allegations of instigation or abetment in witness statements, and no rat poison bottle was recovered during the seizure panchanama.
The prosecution, led by Additional Public Prosecutors Meera Choudhari-Bhosale and Rajlaxmi Bhandari, opposed the bail, citing the severity of the offense. They argued that the accused had allegedly subjected the deceased to physical abuse, and his release could lead to witness intimidation and evidence tampering.
After reviewing the case records, the court noted that:
- There was a history of disputes between both families.
- Statements of witnesses lacked direct allegations of abetment.
- No criminal antecedents were recorded against the accused.
- The accused had been in custody since January 3, 2024.
- Their child, now approximately 14 months old, had lost his mother and required care from the father.
Considering these factors, the court ruled that continued incarceration was unnecessary and granted bail with stringent conditions.
Bail Conditions
The court ordered Dandge’s release on a personal bond of Rs. 50,000 with one or more sureties. Additional conditions imposed include:
- No tampering with prosecution witnesses or evidence.
- Mandatory attendance at Pantnagar Police Station when required.
- No commission of any further offenses.
- Prohibition from leaving India without court permission.
- Submission of permanent and temporary addresses and contact details.
- No change in residential address without prior intimation to the investigating officer and the court.
Failure to comply with these conditions would result in bail cancellation.
Conclusion
The decision to grant bail balances the need for judicial scrutiny while ensuring that the accused remains available for trial. With the case still under investigation, the court’s conditions aim to safeguard the interests of the complainant and prevent any possible interference in the proceedings.