Two men given three-year jail term each for abetting suicide

Additional Sessions Judge T R Naval sentenced private firm V K Traders' owner Vijay Sukhija and accountant Uttam Duggal, saying they had abetted the suicide of victim Sanjay Srivastava by their conduct and intimidation.

"It is held that prosecution has successfully proved its case beyond any suspicion or reasonable shadow of doubt against both the accused Sukhija and Duggal that Srivastava committed suicide and both the accused by their behaviour, conduct and intimidation abetted Srivastava to commit suicide," the court said.

It also imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh upon Sukhija and Rs 10,000 upon Duggal, stating that if realised, Rs one lakh would go to the deceased's wife as compensation.

According to prosecution, Mandawali resident Srivastava had committed suicide in December 2001. In his suicide note, he had blamed Sukhija and Duggal for the extreme step taken by him.

The victim, who was working as a marketing officer in the firm for the last nine years before his death, had said in his suicide note that he was being harassed by his employer as the firm's employees had moved a labour court for salary hike.

He said in his suicide note that Sukhija and Duggal used to scold him and other employees saying "work like a donkey or leave the job." (More)