Gujarat High Court grants bail to woman accused in Surat suicide case

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday granted bail to a woman accused of abetting the suicide of a local BJP leader’s daughter-in-law in Surat, whose suicide note named the woman over her alleged relationship with the deceased’s husband. Justice Hasmukh D Suthar granted the regular bail application of Ishika alias Rani Samir Benarji on October 14, citing substantial progress in the investigation, absence of criminal antecedents, and the time likely to be taken for the trial.

Nidhikumari Singh, 24, allegedly died by suicide on August 23, and Benarji had been in custody since August 26. Nidhikumari got married to Saurabh Singh, son of local BJP leader Shashi Singh, in 2024 and the couple lived in Kadodara. The court noted that there was nothing left to be recovered from the applicant.

The allegations are that the applicant is having an affair with the co-accused, i.e., the husband of the deceased. Due to the said affair, the deceased was mentally and physically harassed by her husband. The deceased mentioned the name of the applicant in the suicide note and committed suicide,” the High Court said.