Mumbai: The State, on Thursday, told the Bombay High Court that the death of a 23-year-old woman who died in 2021 after falling from her Pune residence’s balcony, was an accident.
The police informed a bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre during the hearing in a PIL by BJP leader Chitra Wagh wherein it is alleged that state cabinet minister Sanjay Rathod was linked to the girl’s death.
During the hearing, the Advocate General Borendra Saraf submitted that a police investigation concluded the woman was under the influence of alcohol at the time, lost her balance, and fell, resulting in her death. The investigation deemed the incident an accident.
The woman’s father had filed an intervention application claiming that he had no grouse against any politician for filing a PIL making allegations but he and his family were facing prejudice due to the pendency of the PIL. His advocate said that repeated media coverage was harming the reputation of his family and affecting the matrimonial lives of his four other daughters.
Saraf also informed that two persons had filed separate complaints with the magistrate, seeking action in the case, which dismissed the same following the police report.
The high court took note of the police report and the dismissal of the private complaints by the magistrate. The HC also recorded the father’s statement that the family had no complaints and did not want the issue pursued further.
Wagh’s counsel informed the court they did not wish to press the PIL further. The court, acknowledging the consent of all parties, disposed of the petition, stating no further orders were required.
The case dates back to February 2021, when the woman’s death sparked public outcry following the circulation of alleged photos of her with Rathod and audio clips suggesting a connection. At the time, Rathod, then a minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, resigned following the controversy.
Wagh had sought a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe or a transfer of the case to the CBI. However, Rathod was later cleared of any wrongdoing, with forensic reports stating that voice samples in the viral clips were “similar” but not “identical” to his. Rathod rejoined the cabinet in 2022 after aligning with the Eknath Shinde faction.
In August last year, Wagh had then sought that the high court dispose of the plea with liberty to move for another remedy but after the court expressed displeasure over the BJP leader’s change in stand with changed circumstances – Rathod had joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction – her lawyer had said that she would argue the matter.
