The case relates to the death of a woman from the Kartala police station area who was found hanging inside her home on January 30, 2018.

While delivering the verdict, Justice N.K. Vyas observed that the victim had been subjected to continuous harassment and intimidation by the accused, leaving her with no practical alternative except to take the extreme step of ending her life. The court held that the circumstances and evidence on record established a direct link between the accused's conduct and the victim's suicide.

According to the prosecution, the woman had gone to sleep after dinner on the night of January 29, 2018. The following morning, her mother discovered her hanging from a scarf tied to a pipe inside the room.

During the investigation, police recovered a mobile phone and a suicide note. Based on the complaint lodged by the victim's mother, a case was registered against Mohammad Seraj.

Investigators later alleged that the accused was in a one-sided relationship and repeatedly pressured the woman to marry him. When she refused, he allegedly continued to pursue her, threaten her and harass both her and her family members.

Court records indicated that the alleged harassment had continued for an extended period before the woman's death.

The prosecution also presented evidence suggesting that the victim had previously attempted suicide in May 2017 by slashing her wrist. She was taken to hospital and received medical treatment. The case further revealed the emotional strain experienced by the family, with the victim's mother reportedly consuming sleeping pills due to stress arising from the situation.

According to evidence presented before the court, local village representatives and police officials had earlier attempted to intervene and counsel the accused, but the alleged harassment did not stop.

The case initially took a different turn when a sessions court in Korba acquitted the accused in January 2019.

At the time, the trial court cited insufficient evidence and noted that the handwriting in the alleged suicide note had not been verified by a handwriting expert. It also held that there was inadequate proof to establish direct instigation for suicide.

The acquittal was subsequently challenged before the High Court.

While reviewing the matter, the High Court disagreed with the reasoning adopted by the lower court. Justice Vyas observed that the trial court had failed to properly appreciate the testimony of the victim's mother and had placed undue emphasis on the absence of independent witnesses.

The High Court reiterated a long-established legal principle that the quality of evidence is more important than the quantity of witnesses.

The court further held that strong oral testimony, supported by medical evidence and the overall circumstances of the case, was sufficient to establish the accused's role. It concluded that the absence of expert handwriting verification alone could not undermine the prosecution's case when other evidence pointed towards sustained harassment.

As a result, the High Court convicted Mohammad Seraj under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with abetment of suicide.

The judgment is being viewed as an important reminder of the legal consequences of prolonged harassment, intimidation and coercive behaviour, particularly in cases involving unwanted relationships and marriage pressure.

The matter will now move to the sentencing stage.

The High Court has scheduled a hearing on July 27 to determine the quantum of punishment. The convicted individual or his legal representative has been directed to remain present before the court during the proceedings.

The final sentence will be decided after hearing arguments from both sides regarding mitigating and aggravating circumstances in the case.

A disturbing case of violent retaliation has emerged from Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district, where a young man allegedly stabbed a woman's father six times in broad daylight. The brutal assault took place on Monday morning after the family rejected the youth’s marriage proposal upon discovering he had misrepresented his identity. The entire incident, which occurred inside a local motorcycle repair shop, was captured on CCTV.

Initial reports indicate that the suspect, identified as Sahil Maravi, had approached the victim's family under a false surname, pretending to belong to the same community. The discovery of the deception prompted the family to call off all marriage talks, which reportedly enraged the suspect. The victim, Mohitdas Manikpuri, is currently undergoing treatment at the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) and is said to be in critical condition.

Identity fraud triggers dispute

According to sources familiar with the matter, Sahil Maravi, a resident of the Kududand area near the local water tank, wanted to marry a young woman residing in the Civil Lines area. To approach her family, Maravi allegedly concealed his tribal identity and introduced himself as 'Sahil Manikpuri'.

Believing him to be from their own community, the woman's family initially engaged in matrimonial discussions. However, the family later unearthed his true surname. Following the revelation, they immediately severed all ties and rejected the proposal. Local authorities confirmed that the suspect had been consistently pressuring the woman and her family to reconsider their decision despite their clear refusal.

Brutal assault inside garage

The situation escalated dramatically on Monday morning around 11:00 AM. Manikpuri had gone to a nearby mechanic shop in the Civil Lines area to get his motorcycle repaired. Witnesses stated that Maravi arrived at the spot armed with a large knife and caught the victim off guard.

Assault Timeline: Monday, ~11:00 AM

[Victim arrives at Civil Lines garage] ➔ [Suspect approaches with knife] ➔ [6 quick stabs to chest/back] ➔ [Suspect flees; locals rush victim to CIMS]

The CCTV footage retrieved from the garage shows the suspect launching a frenzied attack, inflicting six deep wounds on the victim’s chest and back. Despite sustaining severe injuries, the video shows a bleeding Manikpuri bravely fighting back and attempting to overpower the assailant before collapsing. Passersby rushed the heavily bleeding man to CIMS as the attacker fled the scene.

Dramatic arrest near Civil Lines

Following the public outrage over the CCTV footage, the Civil Lines police formed multiple teams to track down the fleeing suspect. Acting on a tip-off from a local informant, police cordoned off a suspected hideout later in the day.

During the chase, Maravi attempted to escape on foot upon spotting the police team. However, he tripped and fell down a slope, sustaining severe leg injuries in the process. Officers moved in quickly and arrested him. He was taken into custody and treated for his injuries under police watch.

Family alleges police inaction

The incident has triggered a political and local controversy regarding women's safety and police responsiveness. Relatives of the victim claimed that just two days prior to the stabbing, Maravi had intercepted the woman on a public road and assaulted her so severely that she fainted.

"We went to the Civil Lines police station to file a formal complaint after the road assault, but the police merely took an application and sent us back without registering an FIR," a relative alleged.

The family maintains that had the police acted on time, the near-fatal stabbing on Monday could have been prevented.

Police deny prior knowledge

When questioned about the family's allegations of negligence, Civil Lines Station House Officer (SHO) Kishore Kewat denied receiving any prior complaint regarding harassment or assault from the Manikpuri family.

Local residents, however, remain on edge as this marks the second major incident of public violence in the Civil Lines jurisdiction within a short period, following a recent violent gang brawl over a minor traffic dispute. Security has been heightened around the locality, and further statements from the victim will be recorded once he is declared medically fit.