CBI Secures Big Conviction In Puducherry MBBS Student Priyadarshini Suicide Case, Pradeep Sentenced To Five Years

CBI filed its chargesheet in this case in November 2017.

New Delhi:

The Central Bureau of Investigation has secured a conviction in an ‘abetment to suicide’ case – widely seen as one of the most difficult to prove – after a court in Puducherry sentenced a man, Pradeep, to five years’ rigorous imprisonment over the 2012 death by suicide of Priyadarshini, a MBBS student.

The court also levied a fine of Rs 5,000 on Pradeep, who is a resident of Puducherry’s Thirukannur.

The CBI had contended Pradeep broke up with Priyadarshini, who hailed from Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati district, and then sent a text message casting aspersions on her character and that the message had led to the young woman killing herself. A key piece of evidence was that text message, which was recovered by a team of forensic scientists from Chennai.

The CBI had registered the case in April 2015 on orders from the Madras High Court after being directed to take over a complaint registered at Puducherry’s Thirubuvanai Police Station.

The CBI filed its chargesheet in November 2017.

The complaint was registered by Priyadarshini’s father and it alleged that the young woman – a fourth year student at a medical college and a hostel resident – was in a relationship with Pradeep.

The father claimed Pradeep later started avoiding her and this led to differences between them, and that the fateful message sent by the former and led to his daughter dying by suicide in May 2012.

Priyadarshini’s body was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her hostel room.