A protracted legal fight in the Punjab and Haryana High Court was necessary to compel the Ludhiana police to finally investigate the disturbing death of a 27-year-old man, who recorded a video naming those he alleged pushed him towards suicide. The case, stalled for over two years, highlights a grim tale of alleged harassment and systemic delay.
A Video of Despair and a Family's Struggle
Ashu Soni, a resident of Amarpura in Ludhiana, ended his life on June 15, 2023. Initially, the police treated it as a routine inquiry under Section 174 of the CrPC. However, a shocking discovery was made ten days later when his family found a suicide video on his mobile phone. In the footage, Soni explicitly named five individuals: a woman named Neelam, her sons Rajveer (alias Baddu) and Waris, her daughter Simran, and Simran's husband, Ankit.
"We immediately approached the police with the video to get an FIR registered," stated Vishal Soni, the victim's brother. "But the police did nothing. We made countless visits to the police station, but it was all in vain. Our only recourse was to approach the court." The family's pleas for justice met with a wall of silence for more than two years.
Allegations of Drug Trade and Harassment
The family's narrative paints a picture of coercion and extortion. They claim Ashu Soni was involved in drug peddling for a local syndicate but wanted to leave the illegal trade. The accused, alleged to be drug smugglers themselves, reportedly harassed him to prevent him from quitting. Vishal Soni further alleged that the group had used Ashu's home as security for a loan and then defaulted on the payments, forcing Ashu and his wife to move into a rented accommodation.
Judicial Intervention Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough came through legal intervention. The family's counsel, Advocate Arjun Veer Sharma, filed a contempt petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the Ludhiana Police Commissioner and the local Station House Officer (SHO). The petition argued that the police's refusal to register a case violated clear Supreme Court mandates on registering FIRs for cognizable offences.
Faced with judicial scrutiny, the court issued a notice of motion on December 23. With a court date set for January 29, 2026, to explain their prolonged inaction, the Ludhiana police finally registered a formal FIR for abetment to suicide against the five named accused this week.
Police Defense and Unanswered Questions
When questioned about the delay, Assistant Sub-Inspector Bhupinder Singh, the investigating officer, stated that the initial inquiry was standard procedure. He claimed the police needed to verify the contents of the video independently. "The reason why the accused harassed the victim is yet to be ascertained," the ASI said. Despite the serious charges now filed, the SHO of Division Number 2, Sub-Inspector Jasbir Singh, did not respond to requests for comment on the case.
This case underscores a critical failure in the initial police response to a cognizable offence, requiring the family to wage a grueling high-stakes legal battle to trigger a basic investigation based on the victim's own dying declaration.
