In her statement given to the Magistrate, Nikita said she was undergoing tremendous mental stress and felt dejected. However, Nikita has not stated the reason for mental stress causing rounds of speculations over the suicide bid. Now, she has been booked under Section 309 of IPC.
Nagpur: The suspense shadowing the alleged suicide attempt by 22-year old Nikita Vishnudas Fulwani, resident of Sitabuldi, has started coming into light with a revealing statement the girl deposed before an Executive Magistrate.
On Saturday (Oct 3), between 9.30 and 9.45 pm, Nikita sparked sensation across the city by setting herself ablaze on the terrace of First Love Restaurant at Futala Lake side. In her statement given to the Magistrate, Nikita said she was undergoing tremendous mental stress and felt dejected. Out of the despair, she booked a taxi for going to Futala Lake, state Nikita in her statement. Nikita further said that while going to Futala Lake, she took a matchbox and purchased petrol from Bhole Pump in Dharampeth. After reaching Futala Lake Chowpatty, she went to the terrace of non-functioning First Love Restaurant and tried to commit suicide by setting her on fire, said the 22-year old girl who has been admitted in Orange City Hospital for burn treatment. However, Nikita has not stated the reason for mental stress causing rounds of speculations over the suicide bid.
Based on the statement of Nikita Fulwani before the Executive Magistrate and subsequent enquiries, Ambazhari PSI Borge has now booked her under Section 309 of the IPC and probing the matter thoroughly.
While speaking exclusively with Nagpur Today, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone-1) Ashok Masram said that according to a home-made ice-candy (Kulfi) vendor who was sitting right near the staircase leading to the roof of First-Love Restaurant, the victim was seen going alone with the bottle of petrol or kerosene. He also added that the other eye-witnesses too have claimed to the police that she was alone and that she had gone to the roof alone. According to ACP Masram, some of the first youngsters who had gone to rescue the victim, said that her hands were not tied and that she was screaming which led them to go up to rescue her. He added that the girl was rescued in very short duration.
In-charge Police Inspector of Ambazhari Police Station PI B B Khade told Nagpur Today that just because she has given her statement does not end our investigations. We have registered a case under Section 309 of Indian Penal Code which lays down the punishment for attempted suicide. The maximum punishment which can be awarded is imprisonment for a term of one year. We are also investigating various other aspects of the factors that led to the victim attempting suicide. He reiterated that when the victim was giving her statement to the Executive Magistrate, except for her father and the Doctor, nobody else was present there. Sources claimed that the Executive Magistrate had asked nobody else to be present there. He claimed that right outside the door, police officials including Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime & EOW) Deepali Masirkar Woman Police Constables (WPC) were present in plain-clothes.
Certain things are not adding up
- The victim has given a statement that she left her home at 7 pm. The suicide bid was made at around 9:45 pm. What was she doing and where was she and with whom was she moving around for 2 hours and 45 minutes. According to her statement, she booked a taxi to reach Futala Lake. Taking into consideration the evening hours with its heavy traffic and the traffic signals she should have reached Futala Lake from her Sitabuldi residence in maximum half an hour’s time. It means she should have been at Futala Lake by 7:30 pm.
- Mid-way she claimed to have purchased Petrol from Bhole Petrol Pump (which the police have reported in their press note). Which petrol pump gives petrol to a girl getting down from a car? The personnel at the petrol pump give petrol worth Rs 50/- only to enable you to drive your two-wheeler to the nearest petrol pump. That means she must have acquired 74 ml of petrol. Was this small quantity sufficient to douse her and set herself on fire? Why did the driver not suspect any foul play? She then went ahead and purchased a match-box. There again, the driver of the Taxi should have suspected something wrong.
- If she did want to commit suicide and she reached Futala Lake, why did she not jump into the lake itself? Why plan to die such a horrendous and painful death?
- The name of a political leader’s son is being rumored to be involved in the victim deciding to commit suicide. Did the political leader pressurize the family to coerce their daughter to give such a statement that she attempted to commit suicide due to some mental stress and not because of any other reason?
- Did the police track down the taxi she booked and did they track down the taxi driver? Why did the driver not come forward to report the matter to the police after he left her in Futala lake?
- Are the police investigating by contacting her friends to ascertain the factors that led her to attempt to commit suicide? Are they trying to find out what were the personal stress and tension that led her to attempt suicide?
