Supreme Court Asks High Court to Decide If Bank or EPFO Gets First Charge over Defaulter's Assets
30 Aug, 2025
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea that challenged the Bombay High Court’s decision to quash an FIR in the Ex-MP Mohan Delkar Suicide Case. The FIR had been filed against nine individuals accused of abetting the suicide of former Lok Sabha MP Mohan Delkar in 2021.
Delkar, a seven-time Member of Parliament from Dadra and Nagar Haveli, was found dead in a Mumbai hotel in February 2021. Following his death, police registered a case based on a purported suicide note. The note allegedly accused senior bureaucrats, political figures, and others of harassment and intimidation. Among the names mentioned was Praful Khoda Patel, the Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu.
Bombay High Court’s Decision in the Ex-MP Mohan Delkar Suicide Case
In September 2022, the Bombay High Court quashed the FIR and the related criminal proceedings. The High Court held that the allegations in the note and the material placed on record were not enough to continue prosecution. It stated that the evidence lacked sufficient legal basis to prove abetment of suicide.
This ruling came as a setback for Delkar’s family, particularly his son, Abhinav Delkar. He argued that the case involved systematic harassment that pushed his father to take the extreme step. He then filed a plea before the Supreme Court seeking to reinstate the charges and revive the case.
Supreme Court’s Ruling on the Ex-MP Mohan Delkar Suicide Case
A bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran heard the matter. The Court had reserved its judgment on August 4, 2025, after detailed arguments. On Monday, it delivered the verdict, upholding the Bombay High Court’s decision to quash the FIR.
The Supreme Court observed that there was no legal ground to interfere with the High Court’s findings. It agreed that the material produced in the Ex-MP Mohan Delkar Suicide Case did not justify the continuation of criminal proceedings. By dismissing the plea, the Court effectively brought the case to a close, granting relief to the nine accused individuals.
Significance of the Ex-MP Mohan Delkar Suicide Case
The Ex-MP Mohan Delkar Suicide Case had generated wide political and social debate. Delkar’s death in 2021 shocked many, and the allegations of harassment against senior officials and political figures sparked controversy. His son sought justice through the courts, but both the High Court and the Supreme Court found insufficient evidence to pursue the case further.
With the Supreme Court’s ruling, the criminal proceedings against the accused persons have officially ended. The judgment highlights the importance of strong and credible evidence in cases involving serious charges like abetment of suicide. It also emphasizes that allegations, even when politically sensitive, must stand the test of law before a trial can proceed.