Supreme Court : Mere Insults Like 'Impotent' Insufficient for Abetment of Suicide Charge

The Supreme Court quashed an abetment to suicide case under Section 306 IPC against a husband's in-laws, ruling that merely calling him "impotent" while taking their daughter to her parental home did not constitute abetment.

The bench observed that the suicide occurred nearly a month after the alleged insult, with no contact between the deceased and the accused during that period.

The Court emphasized that for a conviction under Section 306, there must be clear evidence of instigation or intentional aid, as defined under Section 107 IPC.

The court concluded that in the absence of such evidence, the continuation of criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of process.