- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 5294 OF 2023 BETWEEN: 1. KUMARI. NAYANA K.C. D/O CHANDRU D AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS 2. SMT. REKHA W/O CHANDRU D AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS 3. SRI. CHANDRU D S/O DASE GOWDA AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS PETITIONERS NO.1 TO 3 ARE R/AT NO.22/10, TERESA TOWER 10TH A CROSS, 16TH MAIN, OPP. MICO LAYOUT P.S., MAHADESHWARA NAGAR BTM 2ND STAGE, BENGALURU SOUTH BILEKHALLI, BENGALURU - 560 076. 4. SRI. UMESH D.K S/O DASE GOWDA Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS PRSENTLY R/AT NO. 180 MARALIGA VILLAGE, MADDUR MADNYA, KARNATAKA - 571 419 ALSO AT NO.105, AS PER CHARGE SHEET NEAR MACO TECH NO. SCEOL, BHADRAPPA LAYOUT, NAGARABHAVI BENGALURU - 560 056. 5. KRISHNEGOWDA M.D, S/O DASEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS 6. SRI. NUTHAN KUAMR K S/O KRISHNEGOWDA M D AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS PETITIONERS NO.5 AND 6 R/AT NO. 55, 3RD CROSS NARASIMHAIAH LAYOUT, VINAYAKANAGARA, RAMOHALLI POST KENGERI, BENGALURU - 560 074. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. R.P. MANJUNATH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THE NANDINI LAYOUT POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDINGS DR. AMBEDKARVEEDHI - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. SMT. SHASHIKALA K.C W/O LATE CHANDRASHEKAR H.B AGED 54 YEARS, RESIDING AT 12/13, 9TH CROSS CHOWDESHAWARI NAGARA, LAGGERE, BENGALURU CITY - 560 058. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K. NAGESHWARAPPA, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. H.E. GUNDEGOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/S.482 OF CR.P.C PRAYING TO QUASH THE CHARGE SHEET AND ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE CHEIF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU IN C.C.NO.7062/2023 TAKING COGNIZANCE OF THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SEC.306 READ WITH 34 OF IPC AS FOUND AT ANNEXURE-D ORDER DATED 16.03.2023 AND SIGNED ORDER DATED 17.03.2023. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING / PHYSICAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 ORAL ORDER This is an unfortunate case wherein the deceased boy fell in love with petitioner No.1 and petitioner No.1 after having a relationship with the deceased boy, went back on the promise of marriage at the instance of her parents (petitioner Nos.2 and 3). The boy unable to bear it, has committed suicide. He has blamed the petitioners as well as a few other relatives in his death note, which he has put up on his Facebook account. Based on the same, the petitioners have been charged for the offences under Section 306 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, 'the IPC') in C.C.No.7062/2023, pending on the file of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Bengaluru. 2. The case of the petitioners is that, petitioner No.1 fell in love with the deceased. The same was not approved by petitioner Nos.2 and 3, who are the parents of petitioner No.1, as they felt it was nothing but a mere - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 infatuation in the adolescent age of petitioner No.1 and the deceased. Thereafter, they counseled petitioner No.1 and she agreed to marry elsewhere. The oversensitive boy has committed suicide. It is the specific contention of the petitioners that they never intended the death of the deceased and they merely wanted petitioner No.1 not to marry the deceased. It is submitted that the facts, when read as a whole does not disclose the necessary mens rea as required to satisfy the ingredients of Section 306 of the IPC. On the said grounds, it is prayed that the proceedings initiated against the petitioners be quashed. 3. Per contra, the learned counsel for the respondents submits that the death note clearly indicates that petitioner No.1 loved the deceased and thereafter, she cheated him and the deceased, who believed in petitioner No.1, was unable to bear the same and has committed suicide. It is submitted that petitioner No.1 had initially told the deceased that her parents did not agree to their marriage, but she wanted to get married only to him - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 and that he should do the necessary things to come and marry her and the statements of petitioner No.1 made the deceased truly believe that she also loved him immensely, but at the end she cheated him. It is also submitted that the other petitioners threatened the deceased and also asked him to go and die. For the said reason, it is submitted that whether the petitioners are guilty of the offences accused or not is a matter of trial and the criminal petition filed by them be dismissed. 4. The charge made against the petitioners in the charge sheet reads as under: "ಾ-1 ರವರು ಾಗೂ ಾಲಂ ನಂ.12 ರ ನಮೂರುವ ಎ1, ಎ2, ಎ3, ಎ4, ಎ5 ಾಗೂ ಎ6 ಆೋತರುಗಳ ಸಂಬಂಕಾ!ರು"ಾೆ. 2016#ೇ ಾನ ಾ$-1 ಮತು ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' ರವರು ಮಂಡ) ಹ+ರ ಇರುವ ಎ-. ೋ.ಹ/0 1ಾ2ಮೆ3 ಊರ ಹಬ5ೆ3 ೋ!ದು7, ಈ ಸಮಯದ ಾ$-1 ರವರ ಸಂಬಂಕಾದ ಎ1, ಎ2, ಎ3 ಆೋತರುಗಳ: ಸಹ ಊರ ಹಬ5ೆ3 ಬಂರು"ಾೆ. ಆಗ ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' ಮತು ಎ1 ಆೋ"ೆ ಪರಸ<ರ =ೇ>?ಾ! ಒಬ5A1ೊಬ5ರು 2ೕ+ಸು+ದ7ರು. ಈ BCಾರ ಮೃತನ ಮ#ೆಯ ಾಗೂ ಎ1 ಆೋತಳ ಮ#ೆಯ 1ೊ"ಾ!ದು7, ನಂತರ 2020#ೇ ಾನ ಜ#ೇವA Eಾೆಯ ಮೃತನ "ಾF ಾ$-1 ಾಗೂ ಮೃತನ GೊಡHಮIJಾದ ಾ$-10 ರವರು ಎ2, ಎ3 ಆೋತರ ಮ#ೆ1ೆ ೋ! &ಮI ಮಗJಾದ ನಯನ - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 ಮತು ನಮI ಮಗ#ಾದ ಸು&ೕ' 2ೕ+ಸು+ದು7, ಇವAಬ5ರ ಮದುKೆ EಾLೋಣKೆಂದು ಎ2 ಎ3 ಆೋತA1ೆ +/ದು7, ಆಗ ಆೋಗಳ ನಮI ಮಗಳ BGಾ)=ಾ)ಸ ಮು!ಯ, ನಂತರ ಆೆಯ ಮದುKೆ ಬ1ೆN Eಾತ#ಾLೋಣ ಎಂದು ೇ/Gಾಗ ಾ$-1 ಮತು ಾ$-10 ರವರು ಈ BCಾರವನುS ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' 1ೆ +/ದು7, ನಂತರ ಎ1 ಆೋ"ೆ ಕೂಡ ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' 1ೆ Uೕ- Eಾ. ನನS ತಂGೆ "ಾF ಸುಳ0 ೇಳ+Gಾ7ೆ ನನ1ೆ Vೇೆ ಕLೆ ಸಂಬಂಧ #ೋಡು+Gಾ7ೆ, &ೕ#ೇ ಖುGಾ7! ನಮI ಮ#ೆ1ೆ ಬಂದು ನನS ತಂGೆ "ಾF Yೊ"ೆಯ Eಾತ#ಾಡು ಎಂದು +/Gಾಗ ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' ಎ2 ಎ3 ಆೋತರ ಮ#ೆ1ೆ ೋ! ತನS ಮತು ನಯನಳ ಮದುKೆ ಬ1ೆN Eಾತ#ಾ.ೊಂಡು ಬಂದು7, ನಂತರ ಸZಲ< ನಗಳ ಬ/ಕ ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' ಎ4 ಆೋತನ ಮ#ೆ1ೆ ೋ! ತನS ಮತು ನಯನಳ 2ೕ+ BCಾರ +/, ನಂತರ ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' -1 ಆೋ"ೆ1ೆ ಕೆEಾ. ಎ4 ಆೋಯ Yೊ"ೆ Eಾತ#ಾ.ದು7, ಆಗ ಎ1 ಆೋ"ೆ ನನS ಮದುKೆ BCಾರ ನನS ತಂGೆ "ಾF1ೆ \ಟು^ದು7 ಎಂದು +/ದು7, ಎ4 ಆೋತ ಕೂಡ ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' 1ೆ ಮದುKೆ BCಾರ ಆೆಯ ತಂGೆ "ಾF1ೆ \>^ರುತGೆಂದು +/ ಸು&ೕ' ನನುS Kಾಪ_ ಕಳ`ರು"ಾ#ೆ. ನಂತರ ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' ತನS ಮತು ನಯನಳ ಮದುKೆ BCಾರKಾ! ಎ2, ಎ3 ಆೋಗಳ ಒಪ<ದ ಾರಣ Eಾನಕ bನS"ೆ1ೆ ಒಳ1ಾ! ಮೃತ "ಾನು ತನS cVೈ' ನ eೇ_ ಬುf ನ ೊಂದ7 ಸು&' Bಲ- S... ಎಂಬ ಅಂೌಂi ನ, ಈ `ಂGೆ "ಾನು ಮತು ನಯನ ಇವAಬ5ರೂ ಅ£ÉÆåÃನ)Kಾ!Gಾ7ಗ "ೆ1ೆೊಂ.ರುವ UೕjೋಗಳನುS ಅk lೋm Eಾ.ದು7, ಈ BCಾರ ಎ2 ಎ3 ಆೋಗ/1ೆ 1ೊ"ಾ! ನಂತರ ಎ2 ಎ3 ಆೋಗಳ ಉ/ದ ಎ4, ಎ5, ಎ6 ರವA1ೆ +/ ಕೆFೊಂಡು ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' 1ೆ ಅಡHಗ>^ &ೕನು ನಮI ಮ#ೆಯ ಹುಡು!ಯ ಸಹKಾಸೆ3 ಬಂದೆ &ನSನುS ಸುಮI#ೇ \ಡುವoಲ, &ನ1ೆ ನಮI ಮ#ೆಯ ಹುಡು!pೕ Vೇಾ Vೇೆ ಹುಡು! ಗುವoಲKಾ, ಗGೇ ಇದ7ೆ ಾF ಎಂGೆlಾ, Vೈದ7Aಂದ ಮೃತ ಸು&ೕ' ಇದAಂದ ತುಂVಾ ಮನ#ೊಂದು bನS"ೆ1ೆ ಒಳ1ಾ!ದ7ನು. ಆಗ - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 ಮೃತ ಸುೕ ಮ ೆಯವ ೆಲರು ಸುೕ ೆ ಸಾಾನ ಾೊಂಡು ೋಗುದ ರು. !ೕ"ರು#ಾUÉÎ $ ಾಂಕ:31/01/2020 ರಂದು ಮೃತ ಸುೕ ತುಂ&ಾ ಮನ ೊಂದು ತನ' (&ೈ ನ *ೇ+ ಬು- ನ. ೊಂ$ದ ಸು /ಲ0... ಎಂಬ ಅೌಂ4 ೆ ತನ' ಮತು ಎ1 ಆ ೋ67ೆಯ 8ೊ7ೆಯ.ರುವ ಾಗೂ ಎ2, ಎ3 ಆ ೋ6ಗಳ :ೕ;ೋಗಳನು' ಅ< =ೋ> ಾ, 7ಾನು ?ಾಯುವ@Aಾ" ;ೈ< ಾ ?ಾB-1 ರವರ 8ೊ7ೆಯ. #ಾಸ#ಾ"zÀÝ ಮ ೆCಾದ £ÀA$=ೇಔ4 E.ೕ+ FಾGಾ ಸರಹzÁÝದ ಲೆI ೆಯ JೌKೇಶMNನಗರ, 11 ೇ ಎ ಾO+ ನ.ರುವ ಮ ೆ ನಂ.65 ರ ¨É> ರೂಂ ನ. CಳವPದ Pೕ.ಂQ *ಾR0 ೆ #ೇ ಂದ ಕುೆೆ ೇಣು T"ದುೊಂಡು ಮೃತಪVWರು7ಾ ೆ. ಮೃತ ಸುೕ ಮತು ಎ1 ಆ ೋ67ೆಯ ಮದು#ೆೆ ಒಪYದ ಾರಣ ಮೃತೆ &ೆದNೆ ಾZ ?ಾ[ ಎಂAೆ=ಾ ಪOJೋದ ೆ ೕ ಮೃತ ಸುೕ ನ ?ಾ/ೆ ಾರಣ ಾದ ಎ1, ಎ2, ಎ3, ಎ4, ಎ5 ಾಗೂ ಎ6 ಆ ೋ6ಗಳ /ರುದ\ ]ೕಲ^ಂಡ ಕಲಂ ಗಳ ಅನMಯ Aೋ_ಾ ೋಪGೆ, (#ೇದ ೆ: ಸದN ಪOಕರಣದ. ಅಾನತುಪPರುವ (&ೈ Eೕ0 ಅನು' ಪNೕ`ೆೆ ಎa.ಎ+.ಎ vÀdÐjUÉ PÀ¼ÀÄ»¹gÀÄvÀÛzÉ,, ಎa.ಎ+.ಎ ಂದ #ಾಪ+ ಬಂದ ನಂತರ (&ೈ Eೕ0 ಮತು ಎa.ಎ+.ಎ ವರ$ಯನು' ಾನR ಾRCಾಲಯೆ^ #ೇ$Pೊ¼Àî=ಾಗುವ@ದು.)" 5. The death note which is posted by the deceased on his Facebook account reads as under: "ನನ' ಮುದು ಬಂಾN ನಯನ Many More Happy Returns Of the Day in Advance chinni lovu you Bangara, ¤£Àß F - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 ºÀÄlÄÖ ºÀ§âPÉÌ ಮತು ನ' ಈ (ೕಸದ 6Oೕೆ ನನ' 6Oೕಯ ಉಡುೊ ೆ ನನ' ?ಾವ@. ಇಷುW $ನ ೕನು ನನ' 8ೊ7ೆ ಇದು ದೆ^ ತುಂ&ಾ ಧನR#ಾದಗಳg ...... ಂೆ ಜ#ಾಗಲೂ ಒಂದು ಸತR ೇ½Ûà ನ0 ನ' Cಾವತೂ ಕೂಡ ;ೈಂ iಾ+ ೆ ಅಂತ ಲj ಾಲ ಅದು ಂಗೂ ಕೂಡ ಚ ಾ'" ೊತು ಆದೂO ೕನು ನ0ನ TಟುW ೋAೆ ಪರ#ಾ"ಲ ಎ=ೆ ಇರು ೇೆ ಇರು ಚ ಾ'Q ಇರು, ನ0 ನ' ಾ ಇKೊ^ಂಡು ಎ_ೆWೕ &ೇೊಂಡರು ೕ0 ನನ' ಅಥn ಾKೊ^oಲ last ಅಂತ one chance ೊVWAೆO ನ' ನ0 ಚ ಾ'" ೋKೊ^Aೆ 0 ಯzÀವ@ಕು^ ನನ' ಅಥn ಾKೊ^.ಲ, ಈ"ನ ಾಲದ. ಜ#ಾದ 6Oೕೆ &ೆ=ೆ[ಲ ಯ7ಾ" 6Oೕ ಾಡುವವNೆ ಾಲವಲ ಅಂತ ೕನು prove ಾT;ೆW ಕGೆ, ನ' ತುಂ&ಾ ನಂTದೆ^ ಒpೆq r`ೇ ೆ PÉÆnÖ¢AiÀiÁ thank you sooo much Chinni.... ನ0 ಂೆ (ೕಸ ಾqÉâÃಕು ಅಂತ ಇ$AೆO Cಾವತೂ ಾAೆ ಆAೆO ನಂೆ Cಾವತೂ ಆತರ ಅsಲ..ನ0 0 ಅತO ಏನು ಮುuv ಇVWರ.ಲ ಇ ೋ /ಷಯ ೇo 6Oೕ ಾAೆ ಇ_ೆW=ಾ ೊದೂO ಇ#ಾಗ &ೇಡ ಅಂತ ಅಂತ ಸzÀå ಆAೆO ಾ ಾಡು 0 ಾx ೇpೆy^ಂಡು ಆದೂO ಸ7ೋ" ಇAೊಂದು ಆ?ೆ ಆದೂO ೆರ#ೇjP ೊಡು ?ಾಕು. My life game is over thank for playing with my life chinni... love you Bangara… Good bye ಾqÉÛöÊAೆ ಆAೆO ನಂೆ Cಾವತೂ ಆತರ ಅsಲ..ನ0 0 ಅತO ಏನು ಮುuv ಇVWರ.ಲ ಇ ೋ /ಷಯ ೇo 6Oೕ ಾAೆ ಇ_ೆW=ಾ ೊದೂO ಇ#ಾಗ &ೇಡ ಅಂತ ೋUÉÛöÊದR ಅಲ .. 0 ನ0 8ೊ7ೆ ಇದ ಪO zಣ ೕ0 ನ0 8ೊ7ೆ ಅqÉÛöÊದಂತ ಾತು, ನ{ ಇಬ|ರು ಜಗಳ, ಮ7ೆ ಎಲ ಮರತು ಮುದು ಮqÉÛöÊ$ದು , ೕ0 ನನ' ೆ"¸ÉÛöÊ$ದು , Pಾ^ಗ ನಂೆ ೊ7ೈ$ದು ಇAೆಲ just ಒಂದು ?ಾN ೆನಪ@ ಾKೊ^ಂಡು 0 ಕಣ}. ಒಂ~ ಹ ೕರು ಬಂದುO ?ಾಕು ನ0 6Oೕ ಜ ಅಂತ... ಇವತು ನನ' ?ಾ/ೆ ಮೂಲ ಾರಣ { ಅಪY ಅಮ•, { ಅಪY ಅಮ• ಇವತು Cಾ ೋ ೋV ದುಡು€ ಇ ೋ ಹುಡುಗ PZ^ದ ಅಂತ ದು€ನ ದು ಾ?ೆೋಸ^ರ ನನ' ನ' ದೂರ ಾqÉÛöÊದ ೆ, ದು€ೋಸ^ರ ನನ' iಾOಣ ೆ - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 ಬ. ತೋ7ೈದ ೆ, ಆಯು ಪರ#ಾ"ಲ ನೋಸ^ರ ನ0 ತುಂ&ಾ ದೂರ ೋUÉÛöÊ$ ಇ ಾRವತೂ ನ0 0 =ೈa ನ. ಬರಲ, ಇ ೆ'ೕಲದುO next ಮzÉé ಆೋ ಹುಡುಗನ 8ೊ7ೆ ಚನ'Q ಇರು ನಂೆ (ೕಸ ಾ~ ತರ ಅವಂಗುI ಾqÉâÃqÀ. Cಾೆ ಅಂAೆO ಎಲರೂ ನ0 ತರ ?ಾಯಲ. ಸದR ಆAೆO ೊ ೆಯAಾ" ಒಂ~ ಆ?ೆ 0 ಅತO ಾ7ಾqÉâÃPÀÄ ಅಂತ ಸದR ಆAೆO ಾ ಾಡು 0 ಾx ೇpೆy^ಂಡು ಆದೂO ಸ7ೋ" ಇAೊಂದು ಆ?ೆ ಆದೂO ೆರ#ೇNP ೊಡು ?ಾಕು My life game is over .....thank for playing with my life chinni.. love you Bangara ಸುೕ /ಲ0 6Oೕಯ ಅ7ೆ - ಾವ ಮ• ದು€ನ ದು ಾ?ೆೋಸ^ರ ಇಂದು ನನ' ಮತು ನನ' 6Oೕನ ಬ. ತೊ7ೈ$ರ ಅ=ಾM ಮೆ ನನ' ತುಂಬು ಹೃದಯದ ಧನR#ಾದಗಳg, ನ0 ಸ7ೆ ಅಂತ ಾಲು ಕುrದು ೆಮ•$ ಇಂದ Ej" 6. Perusal of the aforementioned contents reveals that the deceased loved petitioner No.1 immensely and both had decided to get married. It also reveals that petitioner Nos.2 and 3 being parents of petitioner No.1 did not approve of the marriage. Thereafter, petitioner No.1 though she initially reciprocated the feelings of the deceased, went back on her promise to marry the deceased and decided to get married elsewhere and cut off - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 her relationship with the deceased at the request of her parents. Unable to bear the same, the deceased unfortunately has committed suicide. In the meanwhile, there have been quarrels between the petitioners and the deceased and his family, wherein the petitioners have abused the deceased and told him to go and die. 7. The question that arises for consideration is whether the aforementioned incidents are sufficient to establish the mens rea that is required to satisfy the ingredients of the offence contemplated under Section 306 of the IPC. 8. Section 306 of the IPC, reads us under: "306. Abetment of suicide.—If any person commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine." 9. Under the present-day circumstances, also taking into consideration, the social background of the - 12 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 parties involved, a person promising to marry someone and thereafter refusing to do so may amount to breaking the promise of marriage but definitely cannot be considered as sufficient to drive a person to commit suicide in the ordinary course. Similarly, when there is a disagreement whether the persons involved should get married or not, and in the process when there is a quarrel and when abuses are hurled and one party tells the other to go and die, it cannot be considered as, sufficient to drive a person to commit suicide. The incident does not amount to the accused persons abetting the commission of suicide by the victim. It is an unfortunate case of an oversensitive boy, unable to manage his emotions when betrayed in love, who has committed suicide. However, the petitioners cannot be held guilty under Section 306 of the IPC for the same. Hence the following: ORDER i. The Criminal Petition is hereby allowed. - 13 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49489 CRL.P No. 5294 of 2023 ii. The proceedings against the petitioners in C.C.No.7062/2023, pending on the file of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Bengaluru, stand quashed. Sd/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE CH List No.: 1 Sl No.: 29