Allahabad HC denied anticipatory bail to suspended Deoria BSA Shalini Srivastava in a teacher's suicide case. She and a clerk allegedly demanded Rs 48 lakh in bribes, leading to the teacher's death. Evidence includes a suicide note and video clips.
The Allahabad High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of suspended Shalini Srivastava, the District Basic Education Officer (BSA) of Deoria, in a case related to alleged bribery and abetment to suicide of an assistant teacher. A single-judge bench of Justice Vikram D Chauhan passed the order, observing that a government office cannot be allowed to become an "open shop for selling orders" by officials.
Details of the Allegations
The FIR in the case was lodged on February 22 this year at the Gulriha police station in Gorakhpur district by Gudiya Singh, the wife of deceased Krishna Mohan Singh. Krishna Mohan Singh had been serving as an assistant teacher since 2016 at Krishak Laghu Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Mandarsan, Gauri Bazar, Deoria.
According to the allegations, BSA Shalini Srivastava and office clerk Sanjeev Singh allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 16 lakh each from three teachers -- Krishna Mohan Singh, Omkar Singh and Aparna Tiwari -- amounting to a total of Rs 48 lakh, in exchange for implementing a High Court order. The complainant alleged that the teachers paid the amount by mortgaging jewellery and taking loans.
It was further alleged that on February 20, Krishna Mohan Singh was called to the BSA office, humiliated and harassed, and asked to pay additional money. Later that night, between February 20 and 21, he allegedly died by suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan.
According to the prosecution, a four-page suicide note was recovered from the deceased's pocket in which he allegedly held the BSA and clerk Sanjeev Singh responsible for his death and sought a CBI probe into the matter. Police also recovered video and audio clips from the deceased in which he allegedly spoke about the payment of bribes. CCTV footage also reportedly confirmed Krishna Mohan Singh's visit to the BSA office on February 20.
Court's Observations and Ruling
The High Court observed that the allegations are serious and noted that evidence, including the suicide note, statement of witness Omkar Singh, and video-audio clips support the prosecution's case.
"A government office cannot be allowed to become an open shop for selling orders by officials," the court observed.
The court further noted that anticipatory bail in corruption-related offences can only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Shalini Srivastava, who is already under suspension, has been booked under Sections 108, 351(3), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Referring to a Supreme Court judgment, the High Court observed that the allegations were extremely serious and that officials allegedly involved in illegal bribery cannot be granted relief when a government office is allegedly being turned into a place for selling orders. The court further observed that the deceased was allegedly subjected to mental harassment, which led him to die by suicide. (ANI)
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