Mumbai: A sessions court has refused to grant bail to 20-year-old student from Masjid Bunder, who has been booked for abetting the suicide of his childhood friend, with whom he was in relationship. The court denied relief, observing that the investigation is still in progress and it's not the stage to release him on bail.
The 19-year-old girl hanged herself on March 8 and on March 27, her father lodged a complaint against Soham Bengde. The duo knew each other since their school days and they were also in a relationship, said the father. The police have claimed that when the couple along with other friends had been to Uttarakhand, Bengde fought with the deceased, doubting her character.
The prosecution alleged that the accused physically assaulted her and also tortured her mentally in the presence of other friends. It further claimed that the two also had physical relations and that Bengde had captured their intimate moments on his phone. He threatened to make them viral, said the prosecution.
The accused, on the other hand, argued that the teen's father was constantly emotionally blackmailing her to end the relationship. Hence, she was living in depression, asserted Bengde, adding that he was in constant touch with her and guided her to stay strong.
The court, however, noted that, “It appears that both of them were in a relationship. Doubting her character, the accused beat the deceased in the presence of her friends.” Referring to the statements of the investigation officer and the father, the court pointed out that before taking the extreme step, the teen called Bengde, who in turn, also tried to call her nearly 20 times.
Terming the offence serious, the judge said that though the age of the accused is 20 years, but even that of the deceased was 19 years. “Investigation is at the initial stage. Considering the nature of offence, the scope of investigation is vast. Hence, it is not just and proper to release the accused on bail at this stage,” the court ruled.
