The Uttarakhand High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a woman accused of abetting the suicide of a man who had allegedly blackmailed her using private photos.
A single bench of Justice Pankaj Purohit set aside the case after examining the nature of relationships formed through social media and the legal principles governing abetment, blackmail, and intimidation.
According to the case details, the petitioner, Preeti Gautam, a resident of Rudraprayag, became acquainted with the deceased through Facebook. Their online acquaintance developed into a close relationship during which the man allegedly recorded objectionable photos and videos of her.
He later began blackmailing her, threatening to circulate the material among her family members and on social media platforms. When Preeti’s marriage was arranged with another person, the man posted the photos and videos online. She then approached the police and cyber cell, which removed the content from circulation.
Soon after, on April 3, 2023, the man died by suicide. His brother later alleged that he ended his life due to the mental harassment inflicted by Preeti. Following investigation, the police filed a charge sheet against her and another accused before the judicial magistrate of Rudraprayag under Sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 504 (intentional insult), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Preeti then moved the High Court seeking to quash the proceedings. After examining the materials on record, the court observed that the woman herself had been a victim of blackmail and online harassment. It found no direct or indirect evidence suggesting that she had instigated the deceased to commit suicide or engaged in any unlawful act leading to his death.
The court also noted inconsistencies in the complaint and the evidence collected against her, concluding that continuation of the criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of the process of law.
Accordingly, the High Court allowed her plea and quashed the proceedings, granting relief to the petitioner.
