Bombay HC rejects pre-arrest bail plea of woman accused of abetting former corporator’s suicide

The Bombay High Court has denied pre-arrest bail to Nilima Chavan, a lawyer and member of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, who was booked for allegedly abetting the suicide of former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Sudhir More.
Chavan, 53, sought relief from the High Court after her pre-arrest bail petition was dismissed by the sessions court on September 16. The sessions court had stated that there was “prima facie” sufficient evidence against her.
Sudhir More, aged 62, reportedly died by suicide near Ghatkopar railway station on September 1. Following a complaint filed by his son, an FIR was registered against Chavan under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (abetment of suicide) at Kurla police station.
Justice N J Jamadar, presiding over a single bench, examined the text messages and phone records exchanged between More and Chavan, submitted by the prosecution. The court expressed the need for further investigation into the matter and subsequently rejected Chavan’s anticipatory bail application.
According to the police, on the day of the suicide, More and Chavan exchanged 56 phone calls, as well as WhatsApp and video calls. Phone call recordings suggest that Chavan had been pressuring and blackmailing More, threatening to take her own life if he did not engage with her.