The criminal proceedings instituted in journalist Nirupama Pathak's death case against her boyfriend were today quashed by the Jharkhand High Court.
A single bench of Justice R R Prasad quashed the petition filed by Nirupama's family accusing Priyabhansu Ranjan of aiding, abetting and instigation of her alleged suicide and observed that continuing of criminal proceedings would be an abuse of the process as no offence was made against him.
The surroundings, circumstances and analysis of SMS exchange between the two also did not make out a case under IPC 306 (abetting the commission of suicide), the court observed further.
Ranjan has been on bail in connection with the case while the Supreme Court has rejected the bail petitions of Nirupama's father and brother following non-appearance by the lawyers from both sides.
The Supreme Court, however, restored petition following their pleading and is now pending with the court.
Soon after Nirupama's body had been found at her residence in Chitra Gupta Nagar Colony in Kodarma on April 29, 2010, Ranjan had accused her family of killing their daughter as they were opposed to their marriage.
Subsequently, a case of murder was filed against Nirupama's mother Sudha Pathak and she was arrested. She got bail after remaining three months in judicial custody in 2010.
Later, police said a forensic laboratory in Kolkata found that the suicide note was signed by Nirupama, and ruled out murder. At the behest of Nirupama's family, a case of rape and abetment to suicide was filed against Ranjan.
