Man denied pre-arrest bail after girlfriend's suicide over his marital status

The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to grant anticipatory bail to a Nashik man whose girlfriend allegedly died by suicide after learning that he was married.

Rahul Dasnur, 23, was in a relationship with a 19-year-old nursing student. The woman was studying B.Sc. Nursing at a college in Nashik and was living in a hostel.

The case was filed at Panchavati police station in Nashik by the girl’s father in April. The woman had recently returned home from her hostel and appeared unhappy and depressed. She didn’t say anything to anyone.

On April 13, she was found hanging in her bedroom while her family was away.

The accused's lawyer, Advocate Kiran Rathod, sought bail, arguing that the accused needed to appear for competitive exams and was not responsible for the suicide.

Justice Ashwin D Bhobe, hearing the plea, questioned the defense’s claim. "So your contention is that she committed suicide because she felt that her parents would stop her education and not because she learned that you were a married person?" he asked.

Advocate Rathod replied, pointing out that the police complaint stated the woman was partying with Dasnur before the incident. "So, if she was depressed after learning that the accused was married, then why would she party with him?" he argued.

Rathod further submitted that the court could impose stringent conditions, but the accused should not be arrested as he has to appear for competitive exams. He also argued that since the girl was interested in competitive exams, she had stayed in touch with the accused.

The court, however, disagreed with the arguments and denied bail. "You are a married person, and you were having an affair with a young girl. There is a loss of life," the bench noted.