COIMBATORE: The counsel of R Annadurai, father of A Rithanya who died by suicide in Tiruppur over alleged dowry harassment, objected to the bail petition filed by the arrested suspects — Rithanya's husband and her father-in-law — at the principal district court in Tiruppur on Thursday. The hearing has been posted to Friday.
The counsel further said they have strongly objected to granting bail to the accused E Kavin Kumar and his father Eswaramoorthy, as they may use political influence to derail the investigation.
"The police have been handling the case in a lethargic manner due to political interference by the accused. The petitioner felt that the police were investigating the case under some pressure. Following the court's decision on the bail petition on Friday, we will move the Madras High Court, requesting to change the investigation agency," said the petitioner’s counsel M Mohankumar.
On June 28, Cheyur police booked a case under Section 194 (3) (case involving suicide by a woman within seven years of her marriage) of the BNSS, and later altered the case and invoked sections 85 (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the BNS against the deceased’s husband and in-laws. Police then arrested Kavin Kumar and Eswaramoorthy.
Rithanya’s parents alleged that the police failed to mention the suicide note she recorded before her death and sent it to her father Annadurai, considering it a dying declaration. Although it was vital evidence in the case, the police failed to mention it in the altered FIR," said Mohankumar.
Mohankumar further said that they have not been given the postmortem report, and the third suspect, Rithanya’s mother-in-law, was released.
"The inquiry of the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) is under way and we have not received the postmortem report. Meanwhile, we ask the police to arrest the third suspect in the case and to invoke dowry harassment charges against them. There are many differences between the complainant's statement, and the police statement and their actions,” he added.
Rithanya (27), who married Kavin Kumar on April 11, died by suicide on June 28. A senior police officer privy to the investigation said there is no claim about the dowry harassment in the deceased's audio message. We are waiting for the RDO inquiry report. If it is proved, we can invoke the dowry harassment charges, he said.
(To overcome suicidal thoughts, contact the health department's helpline 104 or Vidiyal helpline run by Coimbatore police at 0422-2300999)
