# How a Man Faced Criminal Intimidation and Suicide Threats After a Breakup in Pune — Legal Remedies for Men > Facing suicide threats, criminal intimidation, and potential false case from an ex-girlfriend? Learn how to protect yourself legally with anticipatory bail, quashing, and proactive police complaints u Source: https://sudhirrao.com/insights/false-harassment-criminal-intimidation-breakup-legal-remedie Author: Sudhir Rao — Advocate, Supreme Court of India Category: Other Published: 2026-08-08 --- #### One of my clients recently had a case which I am explaining below and if you are stuck in such similar situation, here is what to do. **Note:** Due to attorney-client privilege, I cannot disclose complete case details or identify the actual parties involved. However, I am sharing the essential facts and legal approach so that if you find yourself in a similar situation, you can understand the available solutions and legal remedies. **TL;DR:** When an ex-partner threatens suicide and her brother threatens violence, you can file a police complaint for criminal intimidation under BNS. Pre-emptively securing anticipatory bail and collecting evidence shields you from a potential false case. A domain-experienced advocate can get the police to warn the aggressor and stop the harassment before it escalates. A 29-year-old software professional, Arjun Mehta, ended his relationship with his girlfriend Kavita Reddy in early March 2025. Things turned ugly fast. Kavita began calling Arjun’s family, recounting every argument. Then she told him she’d end her life and leave a note naming him. Her brother Rohan, a gym trainer in Pune’s Baner area, called Arjun and threatened to thrash him on sight. Arjun stopped all contact. But Kavita kept texting: “Wait and watch. I won’t leave you.” Arjun lived alone in a rented flat in Wakad, Pune. He feared she might show up, cause a scene, or file a false case. His first consultation with a neighbourhood lawyer left him with vague advice — just wait it out. That didn’t help. He couldn’t sleep. After a colleague’s recommendation, he approached the Chamber of Advocate Sudhir Rao. Here the approach shifted. Advocate Sudhir Rao immediately recognised the criminal intimidation pattern and the looming risk of an FIR under sections like 351 BNS or even an abetment of suicide charge if things turned. The office team acted fast: they filed a detailed complaint before the jurisdictional police station, invoked anticipatory bail proceedings under Section 482 BNSS, and assembled digital evidence — call recordings, WhatsApp screenshots, and a timeline. Within days, the police summoned Kavita and her brother for a stern warning. The harassment stopped. Anticipatory bail was granted pre-emptively, insulating Arjun from arrest if a false case surfaced. The proactive legal posture shut the matter down without any courtroom battle. # Key Facts of the Case - Arjun and Kavita were in a relationship; they broke up in March 2025. - After the breakup, Kavita repeatedly contacted Arjun’s family and shared private disputes. - Kavita threatened to commit suicide and leave a note blaming Arjun. - Kavita’s brother Rohan explicitly threatened physical violence against Arjun. - Arjun lived alone in Pune and feared a false police complaint. - The Chamber of Advocate Sudhir Rao filed a proactive complaint and secured anticipatory bail before any FIR. - Police warnings ended the harassment; the matter was contained without arrest or litigation. # The Direct Legal Answer #### What if she comes to my place and things get out of hand? How can I get a lawyer immediately if I need to go to the police station? You can call the police on 112 right away. That’s the short answer. But before you ever need to, you should have an advocate’s number saved. Advocate Sudhir Rao’s office always advises clients to file a pre-emptive complaint — this documents the threat pattern. Then, if she shows up, you call the PCR, inform them of the earlier complaint, and insist they record your statement. A lawyer experienced in criminal defence can reach the police station within minutes if you’ve already retained them. The police are far less likely to act arbitrarily when a competent defence lawyer is present. #### If she plans a false case as revenge, what can I do about it? This is a genuine fear. A pre-emptive narrative is powerful. File a complaint under Section 351 BNS (criminal intimidation) and preserve all evidence — messages, call recordings, witness statements. Simultaneously, apply for anticipatory bail under Section 482 BNSS. Courts in Maharashtra often grant anticipatory bail in such “counterblast” scenarios when you can show a pattern of harassment and no prior criminal history. If a false FIR is still registered, you move to quash it under Section 528 BNSS before the Bombay High Court. The timeline of your pre-emptive complaint becomes the anchor for quashing. # Advice in Such Cases **Consult with Lawyer:** The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation to come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think. Do not engage with the ex-partner or her family. Any message you send can be twisted. Preserve everything — screenshot, record calls (if legal in your jurisdiction — consult your advocate). And here’s the thing, a general litigator may not know how quickly criminal intimidation complaints can be leveraged to stop harassment before it snowballs. This specific category demands someone who regularly handles pre-FIR proactive remedies and anticipatory bail. The difference in outcome turns on those early tactical steps. # Applicable Sections of Law - **Section 351 BNS** — Criminal intimidation. Covers threats to cause injury to person, reputation, or property. Punishment up to 2 years, and if threat to cause death or grievous hurt, up to 7 years. - **Section 108 BNS** — Abetment of suicide. If a person commits suicide and abetment is proved, imprisonment up to 10 years and fine. - **Section 482 BNSS** — Anticipatory bail. Protection from arrest in non-bailable offences. - **Section 528 BNSS** — Inherent powers of High Court to quash FIR or proceedings. # Punishment and Penalties Under Section 351(2) BNS, simple criminal intimidation attracts imprisonment up to 2 years, fine, or both. If the threat is to cause death or grievous hurt, Section 351(3) raises it to imprisonment up to 7 years plus fine. Offences under Section 108 BNS (abetment of suicide) are non-bailable, cognizable, and carry imprisonment up to 10 years. The threat itself is what the police will look at first. The moment a suicide threat is documented, the intimidation counts under the higher bracket. # Jurisdiction — Where to File the Case The police station within whose jurisdiction the offence occurred (where the threat was communicated, or where the victim resides) has territorial jurisdiction. In Arjun’s case, since he received threats in Wakad, Pune, the complaint was filed at Wakad police station. For anticipatory bail, the Sessions Court of the district or the High Court can hear the application. If a false FIR is registered, quashing lies before the High Court under Section 528 BNSS. Getting jurisdiction wrong can delay relief, so an advocate who knows the local police dynamics is a real asset. # What if Police Refuse to File FIR? - Send a written complaint to the Superintendent of Police under Section 173(4) BNSS. The SP must investigate or direct an officer to do so. - File a private complaint before the Magistrate under Section 175(3) BNSS. The Magistrate can order investigation and even direct FIR registration. - Approach the High Court under its writ jurisdiction if both avenues fail — but this is a last resort. - Make sure all your communications with the police are in writing. That preserves a paper trail. # Rights of the Accused - **Right against self-incrimination:** Article 20(3) of the Constitution — you cannot be forced to be a witness against yourself. - **Right to legal representation:** Article 22(1) — you can have a lawyer present during interrogation. - **Right to be produced before a Magistrate within 24 hours** of arrest (excluding travel time). - **Right to a copy of the FIR** and to know the grounds of arrest. - Anticipatory bail preserves all these rights by preventing arrest in the first place. That’s the shield you should immediately reach for. # Bail Provisions Offences under Section 351 BNS are bailable in the lower punishment tier, but if a false case invokes non-bailable sections like abetment of suicide or even Section 74 BNS, you need a strategy. Section 482 BNSS allows anticipatory bail — apply before arrest, showing a genuine apprehension. If arrest does happen, regular bail under Section 480 or 483 BNSS can be sought. Courts often impose conditions: no contact with the complainant, surrender of passport, regular police station appearances. Advocate Sudhir Rao’s office filed anticipatory bail here even before any FIR existed, on the basis of the police complaint and threats. The court granted it with light conditions — that single step prevented all custody drama. # Quashing of FIR / Case The High Court’s inherent power under Section 528 BNSS is your safety net. If a false FIR is lodged, quashing is sought on grounds that the allegations even taken at face value disclose no offence, or that the proceeding is an abuse of process. A string of Supreme Court decisions like State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal lay down the parameters. Here, the pre-emptive complaint Arjun filed, the absence of any prior violent history, and the digital trail of threats would form the bedrock for quashing. Timing matters — quashing before investigation proceeds too far is easier, so move swiftly. # If You Are the Victim - Break all direct contact with the aggressor immediately. Do not respond to texts or calls. - Inform your family and close friends about the threats, so they don’t get manipulated. - Go to the nearest police station and file a written complaint — insist on a receipt. - If an FIR is not registered, escalate to the SP or file a private complaint before a Magistrate. - Get in touch with a criminal lawyer who has handled intimate-partner harassment cases well before any false case is filed. # Documents You Must Keep Ready - Aadhaar card or other government ID. - Screenshots of all WhatsApp chats, SMS, and social media messages (with date and time visible). - Call detail records from your mobile operator showing incoming call frequency. - Any voice recordings — check admissibility with your lawyer. - Witness contact details (neighbours, security guards) who saw the harassment. - A written chronological note of every incident — memory fades, a timeline doesn’t. - Any letters or emails from the aggressor or their family. - Proof of residence to establish jurisdiction. # What Evidence Is Required? - Digital evidence is primary here: screenshots, call logs, and multimedia messages. - Voice recordings — though secondary evidence, they can corroborate your complaint. A certificate under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act may be needed later. - Witness testimonies from neighbours who overheard threats or saw the person outside your residence. - CCTV footage from your building or street — request the housing society to preserve it. - Medical record if you suffered any physical or psychological harm. - Police complaint acknowledgements and all subsequent communication with law enforcement. # How the Police Behave in Such Cases Matters involving relationships and threats of suicide are tricky for the police. They’re often cautious, sometimes dismissive. They may call both parties and try to “settle” the matter informally. But that can backfire. A formal complaint for criminal intimidation changes their posture. They will summon the accused side for questioning. Having an advocate present ensures your complaint doesn’t get watered down. Police sometimes lean in favour of the woman out of institutional bias — that’s why a pre-emptive complaint with all evidence lined up is crucial. It aligns the facts before any emotional narrative takes hold. # Timeline of Legal Process - **Complaint filing (Day 1):** Submit to police station, receive acknowledgment. - **Police inquiry (1-2 weeks):** Statements recorded, warning issued to opposite side. - **Anticipatory bail application (simultaneously):** Hearing within a week, interim protection possible on Day 1 itself. - **If false FIR registered (anytime):** Investigation begins; chargesheet may take 60-90 days. - **Quashing petition (post-FIR):** Notice to state, hearing in High Court may take 2-6 months. - **Trial (if chargesheet filed):** Sessions Court, takes 1-3 years depending on case load. # How Long Will the Investigation Take? For criminal intimidation, if an FIR is registered, police typically complete investigation and file a chargesheet within 60 to 90 days. If it’s a non-cognizable offence, a complaint is forwarded to the Magistrate, who may order a brief inquiry. In proactive cases like Arjun’s where no FIR is lodged but police issue warnings, the entire resolution can wrap up in 2-3 weeks. # Understanding the Costs The total cost of a matter like this varies significantly from one case to the next — it depends on the complexity of the dispute, the forum involved, the number of hearings, and the specific facts of your situation. There is no single fixed figure that applies to everyone. A professional advocate can give you an accurate estimate only after reviewing all your facts and documents in a consultation. # Can the Matter Be Settled Out of Court? Yes, and often that’s the quickest resolution. If the other side agrees to stop all communication and threats, a written undertaking before the police or a mediator can close the matter. For criminal intimidation, the offence is compoundable with the permission of the court under Section 359 BNSS — meaning the parties can settle and get the case withdrawn. Pre-litigation mediation can also work. But be careful: never enter into any settlement without your lawyer present. Any document you sign might later be turned against you. # Common Mistakes People Make - Delaying the complaint — waiting weeks allows the aggressor to set the narrative and possibly file a false case first. - Deleting messages or call logs — that’s destroying evidence. Even abusive messages are proof. - Talking to the other party directly to “reason” with them — it inevitably escalates and creates more material they can twist. - Posting about the breakup or legal tussle on social media — that can be used to paint you as a harassing figure. - Engaging a lawyer without relevant criminal defence experience — a general practitioner may not think of pre-emptive anticipatory bail or may not know how to craft a complaint that triggers police warning. This domain-specific gap can weaken the entire protective strategy. # FAQs People Normally Have #### Can the police arrest me just because she threatened suicide? Not without a complaint or FIR alleging abetment. But if she does harm herself and leaves a note, an FIR under Section 108 BNS is almost certain. That’s why you must pre-emptively document her threats and secure anticipatory bail. It’s the best shield. #### What if I’m in a live-in relationship and she makes these threats? Live-in relationships have limited specific protection under the Domestic Violence Act for women, but criminal intimidation is gender-neutral. The same BNS sections apply. File a complaint, gather evidence, and apply for anticipatory bail. The law doesn’t differentiate based on marital status for criminal intimidation. #### Can I call her brother’s threat a criminal offence? Absolutely. A direct threat of physical violence falls squarely under Section 351 BNS. Even a single explicit threat is enough to lodge a complaint. The police can summon him and issue a warning. If he repeats it after a warning, that’s a stronger case for immediate bail cancellation or fresh FIR. #### Will filing a complaint first make me look like the aggressor? It does the opposite when done right. A detailed, evidence-backed complaint that shows a pattern of harassment — and no counter-allegations of violence from you — makes it clear you are the victim. Courts appreciate proactive complainants who seek protection rather than retaliation. *This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified advocate about your specific situation.* *Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India* --- _This is the AI-readable Markdown version of an article published by the Chambers of Sudhir Rao. It is general legal information, not legal advice. Canonical page: https://sudhirrao.com/insights/false-harassment-criminal-intimidation-breakup-legal-remedie_