Abetment to suicide case: IIT Bombay student seeks discharge claiming false implication

Mumbai, July 9 (PTI) IIT Bombay student Arman Khatri, booked for allegedly abetting the suicide of fellow student Darshan Solanki in 2023 and currently out on bail, on Wednesday moved a plea before a local court seeking discharge from the case, claiming false implication.

The accused stated that he was innocent and falsely implicated in the case. The discharge plea will be heard on July 30.

Earlier this month, Khatri withdrew his plea in the Bombay High Court seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings against him.

Solanki, a first-year student of the B Tech (Chemical) course, allegedly jumped to death from the seventh floor of a hostel building on the IIT Bombay campus in Powai on February 12, 2023, a day after semester exams ended.

Three weeks later, a special investigation team (SIT) of Mumbai Police found a one-line note from Solanki's room blaming Khatri for his death.

Khatri was arrested on April 9 on charges of abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code and the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Police investigation revealed that Solanki had allegedly made a communal remark in a conversation with Khatri two days before his death, following which the latter threatened Solanki with a paper cutter.

Solanki was visibly scared and suffered from fever that night, police claimed.

Police stated Solanki had sent WhatsApp messages to Khatri apologising for the remark and saying that he was going back home and leaving Mumbai. PTI AVI NSK