Delhi High Court Grants Bail in 'Suicide Pact' Murder Case, Raises Questions on Prosecution's Version

The Delhi High Court has granted bail to a murder accused involved in a unique case where a suicide pact between the accused and the victim-woman took an unexpected turn. Justice Vikas Mahajan emphasized the possibility of a consensual romantic relationship, bringing into question the prosecution's version of the incident.

The Court found merit in the defense's submission that the woman was able to kill herself during the suicide pact while the man survived as his pistol did not fire. Justice Mahajan stated, "While considering the petitioner’s application for bail, the possibility of the petitioner and the deceased being involved in a consensual romantic relationship and the deceased partaking in a suicide pact with the petitioner and shooting herself, cannot be discounted."

The forensic report revealed that the country-made pistol was in working order, but the cartridge recovered from the accused did not fire. An audio recording transcript indicated a consensual relationship between the accused and the victim, contradicting the prosecution's claim that the accused killed her after she refused to leave him.

The police received information about a suicide attempt on May 10, 2016. Upon investigation, the accused was found alive in the driver's seat, and the victim was dead in the passenger's seat. The accused and victim were in a long-term relationship, both married to others.

Rejecting the prosecution's theory about a financial dispute, the Court observed that evidence leaned towards a cordial relationship. The decision highlighted that out of 64 witnesses, only 24 had been examined in seven years, suggesting no useful purpose in keeping the accused in custody.

"It would indeed be a travesty of justice to keep the petitioner in jail for an indefinite period for an offense which may ultimately be found not to have been committed by him," the Court stated, allowing the bail plea.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University