The Supreme Court of India has upheld the Bombay High Court's decision to quash the First Information Report (FIR) against nine individuals accused of abetting the suicide of Member of Parliament (MP) Mohan Delkar. The ruling, delivered by a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justices Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria, effectively closes the legal chapter on the abetment allegations surrounding the late parliamentarian's death.
Mohan Delkar, a seven-time MP representing Dadra and Nagar Haveli, was found deceased in a Mumbai hotel room on February 22, 2021. A suicide note discovered at the scene alluded to political pressure as the reason for his extreme step. Subsequently, an FIR was registered at the Marine Drive police station, invoking sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 389 (putting person in fear of accusation of offence) of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR alleged that Delkar had been subjected to harassment by the Union Territory administration, purportedly at the behest of Administrator Praful Patel.
The Bombay High Court, on September 8, 2022, quashed the FIR against the nine accused, including Praful Khoda Patel, the administrator of the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep. Abhinav Delkar, son of the deceased MP, challenged this decision in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, after reserving its verdict on August 4, 2025, ultimately upheld the High Court's order.
The initial FIR alleged that Delkar faced relentless harassment and intimidation, leading him to take his own life. The suicide note detailed these grievances, prompting the police to initiate action against several individuals, including top bureaucrats and political figures. However, the High Court, in its judgment, found insufficient evidence to support the charges of abetment to suicide. The Supreme Court's recent decision affirms this view, providing closure to the legal proceedings.