Karnataka High Court refuses to quash case against married man accused of abetting nursing student’s suicide.

The High Court of Karnataka has ruled against quashing criminal proceedings against a married man, Naveen G., who is accused of allegedly abetting the suicide of a nursing student, a 22-year-old woman. The charges against G. include sexual harassment, stalking, and abetment of suicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

According to prosecutors, G. repeatedly stalked and threatened the victim, even following her to her workplace and persuading her to travel on his motorcycle. He also made repeated attempts to compel her into a relationship with him, even going as far as threatening to disclose intimate photographs of her if she rejected his proposals. After she rejected his advances, G. allegedly sabotaged her marriage prospects by calling off marriage proposals from potential suitors.

The court noted that the necessary ingredients for an offence of abetment to suicide require instigation, goading, and proximity, which were all present in this case. The court observed that the victim progressively felt cornered by the petitioner's behavior, with her refusal ignored, her privacy threatened, her workplace invaded, her marriage prospects sabotaged, and her apprehension that she could not lead a life independent of the petitioner reinforced.

The court decided that a trial is necessary in this case, stating that all the ingredients for an offence of abetment to suicide are present.