Woman on hunger strike to meet the Chief Minister booked for attempted suicide
A Kakinada woman in a property dispute with two police constables went on hunger strike after being refused a meeting with the Chief Minister. According to the State, she was taken to hospital when her health deteriorated, tried to take her own life there, and was then booked for attempted suicide on the complaint of the local executive magistrate. On 6 January 2026 the High Court directed police not to interfere with her liberty except by due process.
This page records what the cited court records say happened. Findings belong to the court or authority that made them; this register adds none of its own. Names of private individuals are withheld unless a naming gate clears them.
How we verify →The attempted-suicide case (Cr. No. 80 of 2023) was registered; its present status is not stated in the High Court order.
What happened
The woman petitioned the High Court alleging that police officers were harassing her and her disabled daughter and pressing her to settle a property dispute with two police constables on their terms, including by admitting the two of them to a mental hospital in Visakhapatnam.
The Assistant Government Pleader, on instructions, told the court that the Chief Minister's security staff did not allow her to meet the Chief Minister at his camp office; that when she sat on hunger strike a medical team advised shifting her to the Government Hospital as her health was deteriorating; and that she 'tried to commit suicide' after admission. On the complaint of the Mandal Executive Magistrate, Kakinada Urban, a case was registered under section 309 read with section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, the offence of attempting suicide.
Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa disposed of the petition by directing the respondents 'not to interfere with the personal liberty of the petitioner and her daughter, except under due process of law'. The order does not deal with the attempted-suicide case itself.
Section 115 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 provides that a person who attempts suicide is presumed, unless proved otherwise, to have severe stress, and shall not be tried and punished under section 309.
What the State told the High Court
“On the complaint made by the Mandal Executive Magistrate, Kakinada Urban regarding the petitioner's attempt to commit suicide, a case in Cr.No.80 of 2023 was registered u/s 309 r/w 34 IPC.”
W.P. No. 21912 of 2023, order dated 6 January 2026, para 4 — read the full text
Prosecuted for her own distress
The only person the alleged act could have harmed was the woman herself. Parliament has said such a person should be presumed to be under severe stress and not punished, yet a criminal case was registered against her on an official's complaint.
What we could not confirm
The facts about the hunger strike and the suicide attempt are the State's account, given on instructions; they were not tested by the court. The order does not give the date of the incident or say whether the case has been charge-sheeted or closed. If you or someone you know is struggling, Tele-MANAS (14416) offers free support.