Builder accused of abetting homebuyer’s suicide gets bail

PUNE: A sessions court here has granted a conditional bail to a builder who is facing trial for allegedly abetting the suicide of a homebuyer in Wakad on December 4, 2016.
The deceased, Sadashiv Jangam, had booked a flat for Rs 11.75 lakh in a scheme developed by Sachin V Pani and paid a part of the consideration to the builder. When Pani failed to complete the project in time, Jangam started staying in the partly constructed flat with his family, prompting the builder to allegedly threaten him with forcible eviction and insist on payment of remaining consideration.
Jangam had left a suicide note accusing the builder, among other things, of demanding part consideration without executing any agreement and of non-cooperation resulting in his inability to raise loan from financial institutions. Jangam’s wife, Suvarna, had lodged an FIR against Pani following which the Wakad police had arrested the builder on March 12.
Additional sessions judge D D Deshmukh had rejected Pani’s first bail plea on May 30, stating that the investigation was at a crucial stage. Pani recently moved a second bail plea, citing a change of circumstance in view of the police having filed a chargesheet in the case. This plea was heard by judge Deshmukh on May 31.
The court observed, “After completion of investigation, the investigating officer filed a chargesheet in the court. Thus, there is change in circumstance. No sufficient grounds are made out for rejection of application. No purpose will serve by detaining applicant (Pani) in jail till conclusion of the trial.”
The court went on to order Pani’s release on bail against a personal release bond of Rs 30,000 with one solvent surety of an equal amount.