Cuttack, Oct. 28: The controversy over an 83-year-old ailing woman resorting to Santhara, a fast-unto-death ritual sanctioned by the Jain faith as a way of purifying one’s soul, has taken a new turn with the police registering an attempt to suicide case and starting an investigation.

The woman, Vhicki Devi Sethia, began fasting on September 4. Followers of Jainism describe the ritual as a sacrifice aimed at attaining salvation. The fast had sparked a controversy last week with a social organisation filing a PIL in Orissa High Court equating the practice to suicide.

Police registered the case in response to an FIR lodged at the Manglabag police station against her “for trying to commit suicide”.

“A case has been registered under section 309 of IPC (attempt to commit suicide) and investigation is on,” deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Cuttack, Sanjeev Arora told The Telegraph today.

“A medical team has already examined the accused woman,” Arora said.

Cuttack-based Freedom for Justice’s secretary Shasi Kant Sharma, along with three others, had lodged the FIR on October 8 alleging that Vhicki Devi Sethia “may die at any time as she is not taking any food”. In the FIR, they sought “immediate action as provided under law”.

On October 19, Freedom for Justice had filed a PIL alleging inaction on the FIR. The PIL, which has so far not been listed for hearing, raises concern over allowing an elderly person to suffer without medical assistance and food.

“Our basic issue is whether Santhara is permissible in India in view of Article 21,” said Ghasiram Verma, an advocate who filed the petition on behalf of Struggle for Justice.

Members of the Terapanthi Swetambar Jain community were of the opinion that Santhara was a ritual, which made it different from suicide. The community leaders were of the opinion that it was an age-old Jain religious practice and was not punishable under law.

Mangal Chand Chopra, 80, a Jain community leader, said Santhara was purely a religious practice of giving up food. “It is a chosen act of rational thinking and marks the beginning of a journey of understanding the inherently painful and flawed nature of earthly existence,” he said.

Vhicki Devi’s nephew Bimal Sethia said: “After she was told by doctors at the SCB hospital that they could do little to cure her ailment, she decided to stop eating. Swallowing food is extremely painful for her.”

The woman continues to fast despite being requested to stop it by her husband and other family members.

“Her Santhara completed 54 days today,” Bimal said.