Thane, Mar 4 (UNI) A 32-year-old rickshaw driver was on Tuesday found guilty of the charges of abetting the suicide of his wife and jailed by the district court here.

In his order on the last day of February, the district judge RV Tamhankar has sentenced the accused Sanjay Tangade to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a collective fine of Rs. 15,000 after finding him guilty of the offenses under section 498A.
Another accused in the case the sister in law of the accused, Lochana Tangade, who was also tried in the same case has been given the benefit of doubt and acquitted by the judge.

The prosecutor Ms Sandhya Mhatre told the court that the accused, from Murdha Khadi, of Uttan was married to the victim, Monica, on July 10, 2016 at Dombivili. Thereafter the victim came and stayed at her in-laws place.

All was well and after Ganesh Chaturthi in September 2016 she returned to her in-laws house. Thereafter the accused told the victim that he did not not like her as she had pimples on her face unlike his sister in law who was fair complexioned.
The sister in law resided in the same building on another floor.
Thereafter there were repeated quarrels between the couple and the husband began to distance himself from her and began harassing her. Once when the victim went to her parent's house the accused Sanjay told her not to come back to her in-laws place.

Ms Mhatre stated that once when the couple were travelling on a motorbike they met with an accident. At the time the accused Sanjay did not render any medical help to the victim.

As a result of the constant harassment the victim hanged herself to death on November 26, 2016 at her matrimonial house the court was told.

In his order the judge noted, “On the other hand prosecution has successfully proved the commission of
offence at the hands of accused husband being subjecting mental and physical cruelty on the deceased which is of such a nature as likely to drive her to commit suicide. Resultantly, she has committed suicide by hanging herself at her matrimonial house. So I have no hesitation to conclude the guilt of the accused husband for the offences punishable under Sections 498A, 306 of Indian Penal Code."

Advocate for accused has submitted that this is a single crime registered against the accused and
there is no previous antecedent. It was submitted on behalf of the accused that he is an earning member in the family and his old parents are dependent on him and thereby leniency may be shown while awarding sentence.

The APP submitted that due to the act of the husband of the deceased she has lost her life and she has committed suicide within a period of only four and half months from her marriage. APP also submitted that there has been an increase in numbers of such kind of offences in the society, matrimonial offences are being increasing day by day.
It is therefore submitted on behalf of the APP that for giving a strong message to the society for reducing such offences maximum punishment may be awarded as given by law.

It is true that there is no record to show that the accused was previously convicted or he is habitual offender.
But at the same time the offence proved on merit and the offence is of serious nature wherein the victim has lost her life within the period of five months of her marriage.
The allegations which were proved on merit are touching upon the mental condition of the victim wherein she took the extreme step to end her life. So by considering the gravity of the offence, submissions at bar and other mitigating circumstances I am of the opinion that the following sentence would meet the end of justice.
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