Break-ups not abetment of suicide by default: SC

Court says broken relationships distressing, but not criminal offence

- Suchitra K Mohanty

EMOTIONALLY distressing broken relationships do not automatically amount to abetment of suicide unless there is clear intention linked to the criminal offence, the Supreme Court has observed.

"This is a case of a broken relationship, not criminal conduct," a two-judge bench of the apex court, led by Justice Pankaj Mithal, and also comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, said, in a 17-page judgment.

The court set aside the conviction of one Kamaruddin Dastagir Sanadi by the Karnataka High Court for the offences of cheating and abetment of suicide under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 420 (cheating), 306 (abetment of suicide), and 376 (rape).