The Hindu : Engineer gets jail for abetting wife suicide

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 09, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Engineer gets jail for abetting wife suicide

By A. Subramani

CHENNAI JAN. 8. The Special Court hearing cases relating to offences against women has sentenced an engineer to undergo RI for eight years on the charges of forcing his wife, who was a police constable, to commit suicide in July 2000.

The special judge, S. Vimala, however, acquitted two other co-accused persons in the case — Pachiammal (46) and Amudha (21) — of all charges.

According to the prosecution, Ravichandran (28) married Poongodi, a woman police constable, in May 1999. Two months later, a drunkard Ravichandran started harassing and beating her. He coerced her against working as constable, and also suspected her fidelity. Poongodi ultimately hanged herself at their Kotturpuram house on July 5, 2000, ``unable to bear his inhuman treatment.'' The other two accused actively instigated and supported the activities of Ravichandran.

Finding Ravichandran guilty of torturing his wife ``knowing fully well that she would not retort or retaliate,'' the judge said "had the accused been really affectionate, the deceased would not have chosen to end her life, particularly when she is a woman with economic independence." The accused was guilty of having abetted the suicide of his wife, she said. The judge also sentenced him to pay Rs. 22,000 as fine. Of this amount, Rs. 20,000 would go to the parents of the deceased, the judge stipulated. She also expressed concern over the societal outlook towards women who were unable to live with their life partners for various reasons.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

`Model area' scheme evokes poor response from officials

Engineer gets jail for abetting wife suicide

Lorry owners, residents to repair damaged road at Maduravoyal