[Cites 2, Cited by 0]
Kerala High Court
Mohanan Nair V vs The District Police Chief on 31 March, 2026
W.P.(Crl).434/2021
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.PRATHEEP KUMAR
TUESDAY, THE 31ST DAY OF MARCH 2026 / 10TH CHAITHRA, 1948
WP(CRL.) NO. 434 OF 2021
PETITIONER/S:
MOHANAN NAIR V
AGED 54 YEARS
S/O. VASUDEVAN NAIR, "DEVIKRIPA", TC 19/1753
(3), THAMALAM, POOJAPURA P.O.,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 012
BY ADVS.
SRI.R.SUNIL KUMAR
SMT.A.SALINI LAL
SHRI.JINU P. BINU
RESPONDENTS
1 THE DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF
POLICE HEAD QUARTERS, VAZHUTHACAD,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-688 001.
2 THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE
THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT,
KATTAKADA P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT-695
572.
3 THE CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE
MARANALLOOR POLICE STATION, MARANALLOOR P.O.,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT-695 512.
4 THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE
MARANALLOOR POLICE STATION, MARANALLOOR P.O.,
W.P.(Crl).434/2021
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT-695 512.
BY
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SMT. C.SEENA
THIS WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 31.03.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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JUDGMENT
Dated : 31st March, 2026
The father of deceased Neethu Mohan, who committed suicide on
2.11.2020 filed this W.P.(Crl) under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
praying for conducting a proper investigation on her death. According to the
petitioner, his daughter was ill-treated at the matrimonial home and was
subjected to cruel harassment on the ground of dowry. Her husband compelled
her to bring at least 100 sovereigns of gold and when she refused, she was
subjected to physical and mental harassment. Though crime 1923/2020 was
registered under Section 174 Cr.P.C by Maranalloor police, without conducting
proper investigation they filed Ext.P2 report before the Sub Divisional
Magistrate. The reason stated in Ext.P2 is that when the little child of the
deceased was reluctant to eat food, she quarrelled with the child and thereafter
she committed suicide by hanging herself. There was no suicide note and the
petitioner has suspicions about the death of his daughter. Though he had given
Ext.P4 complaint to the State Police Chief and Ext.P5 complaint to the Home
Secretary, his grievance was not redressed. Therefore, he prayed for directing
the 2nd respondent/Superintendent of Police, Thiruvananthapuram to conduct
proper investigation in crime No.1923/2020 of Maranalloor police station.
2. The Inspector of Police, Maranalloor police station filed a
statement of facts through the Government Pleader in which it is stated that,
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during the relevant period Neethu Mohan was residing along with her three
year old daughter, Dakshina at the residence of her husband at Maranalloor
along with the parents of her husband. Her husband was employed in Qatar. At
about 4.00 p.m on 2.11.2020, Neethu's daughter refused to take food and she
quarrelled with her daughter, went to her bedroom and committed suicide by
hanging between 16.00 and 22.00 hours. Crime No.1923/2020 was registered
under Section 174 Cr.P.C on the basis of the information furnished by the
petitioner herein.
3. The investigation further revealed that Neethu Mohan obtained
passport, but her daughter could not get passport due to the unavailability of
the Aadhar card during lock down and hence, Neethu could not join her
husband in Qatar. Neethu and her husband desired to go to Mookambika
Temple in connection with the 'Writing Ceremony' ( എഴ ത ന ര തൽ) of
their daughter. However, because of the lock down in connection with the
COVID pandemic , her husband could not reach home and hence, they decided
to go to Poojappura Temple for the said purpose. On that day, Neethu Mohan
could not attend the programme due to menstruation and hence, the ceremony
was to be conducted at the Temple in the absence of Neethu. Because of all
these incidents, she was very much disappointed. Further, in the evening of
2.11.2020 when her daughter refused to eat food, she quarrelled with her
daughter, went to her bedroom and committed suicide by hanging from the
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ceiling fan. The cause of death as per the postmortem certificate is "the
findings are consistent with death due to hanging".
4. In this W.P.(Crl), the petitioner contends that he has suspicion
regarding the suicide of his daughter. However, in the FI statement given by
him on 3.11.2020, immediately after the suicide, he stated that, his daughter
was living happily along with her husband and in-laws and also that she had
never complained against them. In the FI statement he further stated that,
whenever his daughter used to visit him, she had only a very good opinion
about her husband and in-laws. But she was angry and felt sorrow towards the
conduct of the minor child, as the child refused to take food. Neethu
complained to him about the above conduct of the child on several occasions.
In the FI statement, he concludes by saying that on the date of the incident also
there was such an incident with respect to feeding the child and thereafter
Neethu went inside the room and committed suicide by hanging herself.
5. In the investigation conducted by the SHO also no suspicious
circumstances surrounding the death of the daughter of the petitioner were
revealed. On the other hand, it is revealed that the deceased was leading a
happy life along with the parents-in-law, while her husband was employed in
Qatar. She even obtained her passport to join her husband, but she could not
join him, as the passport of the child was not obtained due to lack of aadhar
card. In that respect also, she had some grievance. Further, she could not attend
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the 'Writing Ceremony' (എഴ ത ന ര തൽ) of her daughter held in a
Temple due to menstruation and the said incident also contributed to the
grievance of the deceased. In the FI statement also no suspicion was raised.
Therefore, I do not find any irregularity or illegality in the investigation
conducted in this case so as to call for any interference.
In the result, this W.P.(Crl) is dismissed.
Sd/-
C.Pratheep Kumar, Judge
Mrcs/25.3.26
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APPENDIX
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE FIR WAS REGISTERED IN
CRIME NUMBER 1923/2020 BY MARANALLOOR
POLICE STATION DATED 3.11.2020.
Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE INQUEST REPORT BEFORE
THE SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE,
NEDUMANGAD IN CRIME NO.1923/20 DATED
4.11.2020.
Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE POST MORTEM REPORT
CONDUCTED AT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
MEDICAL COLLEGE DATED 4.11.2020
Exhibit P4 TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT BEFORE THE
STATE POLICE CHIEF,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
Exhibit P5 TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT BEFORE THE
SUPERINTEND OF POLICE, CRIME BRANCH,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
Exhibit P6 TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT BEFORE THE
SUPERINTEND OF POLICE, CRIME BRANCH,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
