Former PA of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde seeks bail in wife’s abetment of suicide case

Anant Garje's plea says that there is no evidence to show that Gauri was subjected to cruelty.

The former personal assistant (PA) of Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde, who was arrested in November last year on charges of abetting his wife’s suicide, has sought bail, claiming that the FIR was an ‘afterthought’ due to emotional distress after the tragic death and no complaint was lodged by his wife or her parents earlier against him.

Anant Garje in his bail application has said he had himself surrendered, has since cooperated with the investigating agency, and that keeping him in further custody is not required. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up to probe into allegations of abetment of suicide against Anant, his sister and brother-in-law after the death of his wife, Dr Gauri Palve on November 22, 2025. Her father had filed a complaint after the death, alleging that she was subjected to ‘continuous physical and mental harassment’ by Anant over petty household issues.

Anant’s plea says that the FIR shows there is no mention of any instigation, threat or provocation by him, leading to the suicide. “The applicant (Anant) is absolutely innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present crime. The FIR does not disclose any direct, specific or proximate act of abetment or cruelty attributable to them which could constitute an offence,” the bail plea says.

Gauri (28) had studied to become a dentist and was later working as a dental surgeon at Sion Hospital in Mumbai. She got married to Anant on February 7, 2025, and they lived in a rented home in Worli. The FIR had said that soon after the marriage, she was subjected to continuous physical and mental harassment by her husband over petty household issues. She had informed her parents about it. It is alleged that she had come to know of his affair with another woman, and when she questioned him about it, he threatened her saying that if she revealed anything to her parents, he would die by suicide and name her in the suicide note. It was claimed that other family members including his sister, and brother-in-law were aware of the affair and instead of supporting her, threatened her to adjust, saying that otherwise they will get Anant married again to someone else. Her father had noticed visible assault marks on her face and neck when he visited her on October 3, 2025, the FIR claimed.

Anant’s plea says that there is no evidence to show that Gauri was subjected to cruelty. “Not a single medical report, complaint or witness statement connects the applicant with any physical assault or cruelty…The FIR is a result of an afterthought and emotional distress after the tragic accident. Earlier, no complaint was ever lodged by the deceased or her parents against the applicant,” the plea said. Anant’s plea also said that he had surrendered two days after the FIR and had cooperated with the probe. He also cited that two of his relatives had been granted anticipatory bail by the court.