Bail to husband of woman forced to stand nude outside their home, who died by suicide in 2012
Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): The Bombay High Court has granted bail to a Pune man, Santosh Sudhakar Shilimkar convicted of abetting his wife's suicide in 2012. The case involved allegations of prolonged harassment, including an incident where he reportedly forced his wife and their younger daughter to stand outside their home naked. Shilimkar, a 32-year-old agricultural and sand contractor was convicted by a Pune sessions court in August 2024 under Sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 498A (cruelty by husband or his relatives) of the Indian Penal Code. He was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, Shilimkar's wife faced consistent cruelty which escalated after the birth of their two daughters. One of the daughters had recurring health issues, requiring frequent hospitalizations. On July 16, 2012 a fight erupted after Shilimkar brought pork and demanded that his wife cook it for his friends. During the altercation, he allegedly forced his wife and their younger daughter to stand outside the house naked throughout the night. The woman reportedly informed her family about the incident crying over the phone. Unable to bear the abuse, she ended her life the following day by jumping into a well near their home.
The sessions court convicted Shilimkar based on circumstantial evidence, sentencing him to concurrent prison terms. However, during the appeal his lawyer, Satyavrat Joshi argued that there was no direct evidence of harassment or intent to instigate suicide. He pointed out inconsistencies in the prosecution's case, including reliance on hearsay and the absence of a suicide note. Additional Public Prosecutor Manisha Tidke opposed the bail plea, highlighting the gravity of the charges. Despite this, Justice RN Laddha of the Bombay High Court granted Shilimkar bail noting that the appeal against his conviction was unlikely to be heard soon. The court referred to Supreme Court precedents that recommend a lenient approach for suspending sentences in fixed-term convictions pending appeals. It concluded that the evidence did not justify Shilimkar’s continued incarceration during the appeal process. His sentence was suspended and he was granted bail on a personal bond of ₹25,000 subject to surety conditions.
