Nagpur (PTI): The Bombay High Court has stayed the proceedings of a court in Buldana district while admitting a petition of Devisingh Shekhawat, husband of President Pratibha Patil, in a case of alleged suicide by a teacher.

The petition was admitted in the Nagpur Bench against process issued by the Jalgaon-Jamod Court under IPC sections 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and 306 (abetment of suicide).

Justice Arun Choudhary yesterday rejected pleas of Shekhawat for adjournment of petition on the ground that the plea can be amended and additional grounds incorporated.

The petition was adjourned time and again since April 11, 2007 and was constantly listed for admission.

The case relates to an alleged suicide by Kisan Dhage, a teacher in a school run by an educational institute, Vidya Bharti Shikshan Sanstha, headed by Shekhawat in Amravati.

Dhage was transferred outside Amravati and he subsequently committed suicide on November 15, 1998.

His widow, Mangala Dhage, had filed a private criminal complaint against Shekhawat, his two brothers and other office-bearers of the institute, holding them responsible for the step taken by her husband.