Notice to Police Commissioner in ICICI Bank loanee suicide case

New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) The Delhi High Court has issued notice to Delhi Police Commissioner on the petition of an old lady who alleged that her son committed suicide on October 21 last year due to harassment by ICICI Bank officials for non-payment of a loan for a motorcycle.

Justice R C Jain asked the Police Commissioner to state the reason for not conducting a proper inquiry despite an FIR being lodged with Sriniwaspuri police station on November 29, 2005 by Shanti Devi Sharma.

The court also asked the Sriniwaspuri Station House Officer (SHO) to remain present on March 30 during the hearing with all the records.

Mrs Sharma, in her petition, alleged that her son Himanshu, a restaurant owner, committed suicide due to harassment by the ICICI Bank officials for non-payment of two instalments of a loan of Rs 37,000 for a motorcycle.

Due to some financial difficulties, he could not pay these instalments and the bank officials allegedly sent 'bouncers' and forcibly took away the bike on October 16, 2005 after threatening him and his family members of dire consequnces.

Himanshu had also taken another loan of Rs 66,000 to buy a van which he was paying regularly.

When the wife of the deceased approached the bank on October 19, 2005, the bank officials demanded Rs 44,000 in cash for the release of the motorcycle without taking into consideration of the paid-up instalments.

''Himanshu committed suicide because of the insult and disgrace faced by him due to the action of the ICICI Bank officials,'' alleged the petition filed by Counsel Surat Singh.

Despite filing an FIR with the police on October 29, 2005 against the ICICI Bank officials, the police were not initiating any action against them despite the offence being non-bailable, said the petition.

UNI PAT VD RK1805