The Bombay High Court's Kolhapur bench on Tuesday directed the Solapur sessions court to postpone the framing of charges against Manisha Musale-Mane, who is accused of abetting the suicide of neurologist Dr Shirish Valsangkar, until the next hearing on June 22.
Interim Relief Granted
Musale-Mane approached the High Court after the sessions court rejected her discharge plea in April and scheduled May 15 as the date to frame charges. Granting interim relief, the High Court held that the charge-framing process must be stayed until the matter is heard next.
Justice Pravin S Patil stated, "In view of the filing of the present petition, the learned sessions court is directed to defer the framing of charges till the next date of the present matter." The hearing has been posted to June 22.
Background of the Case
In its April 20 order, Solapur principal district and sessions judge Manoj Sharma had ruled that there was sufficient material on record to raise "grave suspicion" and a prima facie link between the alleged threats by the accused and the doctor's suicide.
Dr Valsangkar died by suicide on April 18, 2025. Musale-Mane, 46, was arrested on April 20 after a suicide note, purportedly written by Valsangkar, blamed her for driving him to take the extreme step. She has been out on bail since June 25, 2025.
Allegations and Investigation
According to investigators, Musale-Mane had been upset over a reduction in salary and authority by the hospital management and had allegedly sent emails to Valsangkar threatening self-harm and harm to her children. The suicide note also referred to the doctor being distressed over what he termed "false and baseless allegations."
Legal Representation
In the High Court, Musale-Mane was represented by advocate Prasad P Kulkarni, along with Prashant Navgire, Nakul Vivek Shukla, and Amol Deshinge. Additional public prosecutor N B Patil appeared for the state, while constable B D Devkate of the Sadar Bazaar police station, Solapur, was present during the hearing.
