Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 6: The first additional district and sessions court here, through a judgment passed on Monday December 5, sentenced a woman and her paramour to five years of rigorous imprisonment (RI), holding them responsible for abetting the suicide of the woman's husband.

Roopavathi (34) from Kanyady in Beltangady taluk, and Dinesh Gowda (32), resident of Padmunja Kedila in Kaniyoor village in Beltangady talauk, were handed down this sentence. They have also been fined Rs 10,000 each. The verdict as above was delivered pertaining to the suicide committed by Sadashiva Gowda (40) from Kolakody in Acharapalke in Panjikallu village, Bantwal taluk, five years by consuming poison.

Sadashiva and Dinesh, who were friends, operated a hotel at Gadag in partnership. Sadashiva had married Roopavathi in 2005, after which he started staying with her at Gadag and soon Roopavathi gave birth to a male child. As time passed, Dinesh got attracted towards Roopavathi and the two had illicit relationship, it is said. Sadashiva, who came to know about this relationship, advised both of them to mend their ways, but the duo ignored him and continued with their relationship. Reportedly, the two began pestering Sadashiva and used harsh words against him often.

Sadashiva came to his native place at Panjikallu on March 15, 2011, and consumed poison. He had left a death note in which he mentioned that his wife had sent him home, duly chiding him to get lost and die. He fell very sick and died the next day. On the basis of complaint made by Srinivas, brother of Sadashiva, a case was registered in Bantwal rural station. The then sub-inspector, M R Tahsildar, investigated the case and filed charge sheet.

Judge of the first additional district and sessions court, C M Joshi, held that the charges levelled against the accused have been proved. He also has ordered the duo to undergo six additional months of jail term if they fail to pay fine as stated above. Out of the fine, Rs 15,000 has to be handed over to the mother of Sadashiva, he said and also asked district legal service authority to help the family as per provisions. The minor son of Sadashiva has been ordered to be rehabilitated.

Public prosecutor, Raju Poojary Bannadi, had represented the prosecution. Bannadi said that this judgment happens to be one of the rarest, as women are very rarely punished in cases of harassing husbands.