Bengaluru: After several instances of cops booking cases against individuals who have either spoken about of made preparation to commit suicide have cropped up, the High Court here has stated that the expression of intent to commit suicide is not a crime.
The court added that those attempting to commit suicide would be penalised with a “simple imprisonment that may be extended to one year or with fine, or both”. It also emphasised that only those who were unsuccessful at attempting suicide could be booked under IPC section 309.
The observation was made in connection with a case involving S Kaviraj, a resident of Chitradurga.
After being harassed by police, Kaviraj had left home in October 2016, fully intending to commit suicide, even confiding in a friend about his intentions. Kaviraj had allegedly left a suicide note which was found by his father, Shankar Naik, who took the note to the police station and threatened consequences if anything were to happen to his son. Kaviraj was later found at a lodge in Tumakuru.
Kaviraj was subsequently booked for attempting suicide by the Hiriyuru rural police. The court, however, observed that though Kaviraj had told his friend that he wanted to die, there was no evidence that the accused had made an attempt to end his life.
