Harassment for loan repayment amounts to abetment of suicide: HC

The court observed that a prudent man would commit suicide if he is harassed day in and day out

In a landmark verdict, the Bombay high court has said that harassment for loan repayment amounts to abetment of suicide. The verdict was delivered when the court was hearing a discharge plea by two licenced money lenders. Two money lenders, Gurunath and Sangita had moved the court seeking their discharge after a person harassed by them had committed suicide.

The accused persons were charged with assault and intimidation. Umesh had taken a loan of Rs 19 lakh from the duo. As he was unable to repay the loan, he had sought more time. However, the duo harassed him which eventually led to Umesh committing suicide. His wife then filed a complaint against the two money lenders.

The court, while rejecting the discharge plea, observed that a prudent family man would commit suicide if he is harassed day in and day out.

The court observed that the conduct of the accused persons in assaulting the deceased for getting back the loan amount appears to be wilful and its gravity seems to propel or compel a person of ordinary prudence to commit suicide.

"Continuously attacking a family man, both verbally and physically, in presence of his family members at his home and at his workplace amounts to instigation and provocation to commit suicide. Cornered to a wall by such behaviour of the accused, the victim Umesh was bound to think that it is better to die rather than suffer such humiliations in front of his children and other family members, the court observed.

OneIndia News