MP High Court Grants Bail To Four Accused Of Abetting Borrower's Suicide Despite Video Note Naming Them

The Madhya Pradesh High Court granted anticipatory bail to 3 persons and regular bail to one, accused of abetting suicide of a borrower despite the latter's video suicide note alleging that they had threatened the deceased to pay more towards interest despite payment of principal amount.

The court granted relief citing disputed facts, lack of criminal antecedents and observing that the loaned money was in the course of their business only.

Finding the facts of the case "quite disputed", the bench of Justice Subodh Abhyankar observed;

"In such facts and circumstances of the case, which are quite disputed, this Court is of the considered opinion that merely because the deceased had left a suicide note in the form of a video clip, would not be a reason to deny the facility of bail to the applicants, who otherwise have no criminal antecedents, and the amount which they had given to the deceased was in the course of their business only. In such circumstances, this Court finds that the custodial interrogation of the applicants would not be necessary".

The applicants, Jitendra, Hemant Verma and Arvind Parma, approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail, whereas another applicant, Antim @ Kamal Jain, who has been in custody since July 21, filed for regular bail.

They were charged with abetting the suicide of Mahendra, who allegedly consumed a poisonous substance in front of Indore District Hospital on July 18, 2025. However, three days prior to the incident, the deceased recorded a video clip, which was later circulated on social media, naming the applicants responsible for his death. He alleged that despite repaying the principal sum of the loaned amount, he was threatened to pay more towards interest.

Counsel appearing for the applicants claimed that the applicants were cloth merchants with no prior criminal antecedents. It was submitted that the deceased had borrowed goods from them and subsequently embezzled the same. Counsel asserted that the deceased had also eloped from Indore for about a month, and that news of his fraud was published in the daily papers.

It was additionally argued that the deceased had no intention to commit suicide, as evidenced by the fact that he consumed the poison in front of the hospital, presumably expecting medical intervention, but unfortunately died. Counsel asserted that the video clip was a calculated attempt to exert pressure on the applicants.

Opposing the petition, the counsel for the State argued that the video suicide note constituted sufficient proof of abetment.

The court observed that the deceased had borrowed money from multiple individuals and that the news of his alleged embezzlement had been reported in print media. The court also noted that one of the applicants, facing financial difficulties, had pleaded for repayment of the loaned amount.

The court thus directed;

"Accordingly, without commenting on the merits of the case it is directed that in the event of arrest, applicants Jitendra, Hemant Verma and Arvind Parma shall be released on bail... Similarly, the regular bail application filed by the applicant Antim @ Kamal Jain is also allowed".

Case Title: Jitendra Chawla v State of MP (MCRC-39590-2025)

Citation:

For Applicants: Advocates Varun Mishra and Shubhangi Solanki

For State: Government Advocate Vishal Singh Panwar

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