Doctor Accused Of Abetting Girlfriend's Suicide By Asking For Exorbitant Dowry Moves Kerala High Court Seeking Bail

A bail application has been moved in the Kerala High Court by Dr. Ruwais, who had been booked for abetting the suicide of his girlfriend, Dr. Shahana. 

Dr. Shahana, who was a Postgraduate surgery student at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, had committed suicide due to financial constraints faced by her family, and their failure to meet the alleged demands for exorbitant dowry sought by Ruwais.

It is alleged that Ruwais' family had demanded 150 sovereigns of gold, 15 acres of land, and a BMW car from Shahana's family, which the latter could not meet. When the incident came to light, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had suspended Ruwais' medical license for abetting Dr. Shahana's suicide. 

Ruwais has been charged with the offences under Section 306 IPC ('Abetment of Suicide') and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act ('Penalty for demanding dowry'). 

Justice Gopinath P. had earlier sought the response of the State Government in the matter. 

In the bail application moved through Advocate Nireesh Mathew, Ruwais averred that there was no material in the present case to connect him with the present offence. He submitted that only a proposal of marriage had taken place between the parties. 

The petitioner stated that his father had said that the marriage could be conducted only after completion of education, which was not acceptable to the victim, and that the latter was instigating the petitioner to marry her which he denied to follow his father's advice. 

He added that no agreement or consent with regard to dowry had taken place between the parties. 

Ruwais submitted that as per Section 306 IPC, the suicide of the person ought to be due to 'immediate provocation or instigation' from another person, which had not occurred in the present case. He said that he had no intention to hurt the victim's feelings, but on the contrary, had expressed his bona fide desire to marry her. 

He added that no amount as dowry had been given or consented to be given and that neither the victim nor her relatives had filed any complaint alleging offences under the Dowry Prohibition Act before competent authorities. 

The petitioner averred that he had led many agitations against the State Government for an increase of stipend and facilities to medical students, which had resulted in the present proceedings to implicate him in the case. 

"If the petitioner is not released on bail, he will be put to many hardships. The petitioner is now suspended from college without notice and without hearing. The petitioner will lose his future, if the petitioner is not released on bail," the plea states. 

It is on these grounds that the present bail application has been moved. 

It is noted that Ruwais' plea for bail had earlier been rejected by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on the ground that the alleged offences were exclusively triable by the Sessions Court. 

Ruwais' father had earlier been granted anticipatory bail by the Court on consideration of his age. 

The matter has been posted for further consideration on December 20, 2023 (Wednesday). 

Case Title: Dr. Ruvais E.A. v. State of Kerala

Case Number: Bail Appl. 11024 of 2023