Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Dec 31: A person, who had been charged with abetting the suicide of his wife, has been acquitted by the court here after hearing the case. Mahesh Devadiga had been accused of nursing suspicion about the character of his wife, and of inflicting mental and physical torture to her. Allegedly, his wife, unable to bear this agony, had committed suicide by jumping into the well of the house along with her 30-month-old daughter.

Mahesh, a resident of Navunda village, had married Nagaratna from Teggarse village in the taluk on January 30, 2011. Problems for Nagaratna started the day on which she received a missed call over her cellphone from a stranger. Reportedly, Mahesh grew suspicious about his wife's character from that day onward, and his doubts compounded with each day. It is said that he used to come home drunk regularly, and beat up his wife, urging her to either jump into the rivulet or divorce him. He was also aggrieved about the fact that his wife delivered a female baby.

On the evening of June 28, 2014, Nagaratna jumped into the well along with daughter, Trisha, thus ending both the lives.

Byndoor police circle inspector, Sudarshan, conducted investigation and filed charge sheet against Mahesh in the court. During the hearing, 13 witnesses were examined by the court. The additional sessions judge here, Rajashekhar A Patil, who presided over the proceedings, held that the charges levelled against the accused have not been proved. Accordingly, Mahesh was absolved of all charges.

Advocate, Ravikiran Murdeshwar, represented Mahesh in the court in this case.