Panaji: Weeks after Bengaluru-based data scientist Suchana Seth allegedly killed her four-year-old son in Goa, her father, Joy Gopal Seth, approached the Goa Children’s Court seeking a direction to Goa police to get her examined by a civil surgeon or medical board to ascertain her mental condition.
Joy said that it is beyond the stretch of any imagination that a mother, in a proper frame of mind, would commit such an act against her own offspring.“I further add and say that Suchana is unable to make her defence or has been incapable of making her defence due to the mental illness which she is suffering from; she is in denial of her own illness,” he said.
Responding to the application, Calangute police told the court that they have already moved the medical superintendent, Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB), Bambolim, requesting Suchana’s medical examination report. Police said the report is awaited.
The father said that he has “bona fide belief” that the pleadings between Suchana and her husband haven’t been furnished to the IPHB, and that these would have helped experts to medically evaluate her mental condition. “Grave prejudice will be caused (to Suchana) as she is neither able to put her defence nor is able to give proper instructions on account of her sickness or mental condition, and therefore, in the interest of justice, it would be proper and just to inquire into her mental health for adjudication,” her father said.
He said that pending his application, the interrogation/investigation of Suchana may be stayed and the mandate of Sections 328, 329, and 330 of the CrPC be complied.
He said that the court should “try the fact of unsoundness and incapacity of the applicant” as she is mentally unable and incapable of making her defence correctly. “The medical records make it amply clear and fortify the fact about the mental condition of the accused,” he said.
Suchana has been sent to judicial custody, and Calangute police said that they will file the chargesheet once the investigation in the case is completed.
Joy said that it is beyond the stretch of any imagination that a mother, in a proper frame of mind, would commit such an act against her own offspring.“I further add and say that Suchana is unable to make her defence or has been incapable of making her defence due to the mental illness which she is suffering from; she is in denial of her own illness,” he said.
Responding to the application, Calangute police told the court that they have already moved the medical superintendent, Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB), Bambolim, requesting Suchana’s medical examination report. Police said the report is awaited.
The father said that he has “bona fide belief” that the pleadings between Suchana and her husband haven’t been furnished to the IPHB, and that these would have helped experts to medically evaluate her mental condition. “Grave prejudice will be caused (to Suchana) as she is neither able to put her defence nor is able to give proper instructions on account of her sickness or mental condition, and therefore, in the interest of justice, it would be proper and just to inquire into her mental health for adjudication,” her father said.
He said that pending his application, the interrogation/investigation of Suchana may be stayed and the mandate of Sections 328, 329, and 330 of the CrPC be complied.
He said that the court should “try the fact of unsoundness and incapacity of the applicant” as she is mentally unable and incapable of making her defence correctly. “The medical records make it amply clear and fortify the fact about the mental condition of the accused,” he said.
Suchana has been sent to judicial custody, and Calangute police said that they will file the chargesheet once the investigation in the case is completed.