Tunisha Sharma Death Case: Supreme Court lawyer explains if Sheezan Khan can be accused of abetment to suicide

Khusbhu Jain, a Supreme Court lawyer, explains what "abetment to suicide" means and if Sheezan is liable.

Tunisha Sharma-Sheezan Khan (Source: Instagram)

During the shooting of their television show Alibaba: Dastaan-E-Kabul, Tunisha Sharma (4 January 2002 – 24 December 2022) committed suicide in the makeup room of her co-star Sheezan Khan. Fans, friends, and the entire entertainment industry were all in disbelief after this incident. Ex-boyfriend Sheezan Khan, who was accused of aiding in Tunisha's suicide by the late actress' mother, Vanita Sharma, was taken into custody shortly after. On December 25, Sheezan was taken into custody by the Waliv police pursuant to Section 306 of the IPC.

The actress' ex-boyfriend is the main suspect in the case because she left no note when she committed suicide. Sheezan has faced numerous accusations from Tunisha's mother, who claims that he 'deceived' her daughter by instilling false expectations in her regarding marriage. Sheezan allegedly used Tunisha for three to four months, according to Tunisha's mother. Recently, it has been reported that Reshma, Tunisha's housekeeper, has provided her statement in the case. Khushbu Jain, a lawyer for the Supreme Court, also gave her advice on whether Sheezan Khan could be charged with "abetment to suicide."

There has been a recent update regarding Tunisha's housekeeper. Reshma has given the police her statement. She has long served Tunisha and her mother as a maid. Reshma allegedly said that she was supposed to go to Chandigarh at night on the same day that Tunisha committed suicide. Sheezan had told the mother of the actress that he would marry Tunisha while staying with them for 4 to 5 days, she continued. Reshma recalled that Tunisha used to struggle with depression and was really depressed following their breakup.

Khusbhu Jain, a Supreme Court lawyer, explains what "abetment to suicide" means and if Sheezan is liable. She shared that, “The question as to what is the cause of a suicide has no straight answers because suicidal ideation and behaviours in human beings are convoluted and multifaceted. In the same situation, Different individuals react and behave differently because of the personal meaning they add to each event, thus accounting for individual vulnerability to suicide.”

She goes on to describe "abetment to suicide" and states, that the matter in question revolves around Sheezan Khan's aiding in suicide. Abetting, instigating, or aiding the victim in committing suicide are all considered acts of aid and abetment of suicide. Only when each of these requirements for abetment of suicide is met may the prosecution establish an offence under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Khushboo then concluded saying that the law enforcement agency must hold Sheezan Khan in custody until it is necessary for the collection of evidence in order to thoroughly examine the facts and circumstances of the case in order to determine whether the cruelty and harassment meted out to Tunisha had left her with no choice but to extinguish her life spark or put an end to it. This is necessary in order to hold Sheezan Khan guilty of an offence under Section 306 IPC.

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