Telangana Dalit cop suicide: Plea in Supreme Court against bail to five accused-colleagues

The wife of a deceased Dalit police sub-inspector (SI) in Telangana has moved the Supreme Court challenging the anticipatory bail granted to five of his colleagues accused of mentally harassing him due to which he died by suicide [Smt. Sriramula Krishna Veni v. The State of Telangana and Ors.].

The five accused policemen allegedly committed caste-based harassment driving SI Srinu to take his life. Out of the five, four are constables who were subordinates to Srinu while one is a Circle-Inspector.

They have been booked under the relevant provisions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act) and for abetment of suicide under Section 306 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

While the investigation was underway, the accused persons had moved the Telangana High Court seeking anticipatory bail which was allowed by way of orders passed on September 4 and September 20.

This prompted the appeal before the Supreme Court by Srinu's wife Sriramula Krishna Veni.

The appeal filed through advocate Sriram Parakkat contends that the High Court failed to adequately consider her husband's dying declaration, which explicitly accused a senior official of harassment.

As per the plea, the High Court overlooked the fact that Srinu's death was declared "unnatural," and the same indicated abetment of suicide due to harassment, warranting deeper investigation.

There is a risk that one of the accused, who is a Circle Inspector, may misuse his position to tamper with evidence and influence witnesses, she has contended.

There are serious allegations of caste-based harassment which were not sufficiently considered when the High Court granted bail to the accused, the plea states.

In view of these grounds, Veni has requested the top court to stay the orders passed by the High Court.