2009 suicide case: Six get jail for five years; two let off

The Thane sessions court on Friday sentenced six people to five years rigorous imprisonment and fined each of them ₹5,000 in a 2009 suicide case.

The accused were arrested for harassing 24-year-old Saujanya Jadhav, a computer hardware engineer, and her family from at Kopar Khairane for a long time.

The family had complained that they were being harassed for a long time. After Jadhav’s mother filed a complaint against them, the accused assaulted the family and humiliated them.

A counter complaint was registered against Jadhav’s family and her mother was put in a lock-up on a false charge.

“Not being able to tolerate their harassment, Jadhav took the drastic step on June 27, 2009, by consuming sleeping pills. She was admitted to a Vashi hospital in an unconscious state. Later, she was shifted to Sion hospital. She died a few days later on July 12,” said a police officer from Kopar Khairane police station.

There was public outcry following her death as the people who harassed her were accused of having political connections.

After Jadhav’s death, the matter also reached the state home ministry following which the police arrested eight people.

“Among the eight arrested were Suresh Sanas alias Daji and his brother Vilas Sanas, who is the husband of former NCP corporator Rupali Sanas. The other accused who were arrested were Rajendra Bhor, Ratnakar Awte, Kumar Gole, Sandeep Dhonde, Alka Bhor and Manisha Bhor,” the officer said.

They were charged with rioting, unlawful assembly, house trespassing, harming the modesty of a woman and causing hurt with dangerous weapons under sections of the IPC . They had got bail later. Except for Alka and Manisha Bhor, the rest of the arrested accused were found guilty by the sessions court.