MUMBAI: In relief to a man who was booked for raping a woman, who later gave birth to a child and is now untraceable, the Bombay high court has granted him bail on the condition that if she is found within a year, he shall marry her.
“I deem it appropriate to release the applicant on bail subject to compliance that if the survivor is traced within a short while, say in a period of one year, he shall solemnise marriage with her, but he shall not be bound by the statement beyond one year,” said Justice Bharati Dangre in her order.
The chargesheet said the complainant (22) knew the accused (26) since 2018 as they were neighbours. They fell in love and their families were aware of it. They had physical relations and she trusted him as he had assured her he would marry her
Due to her history of irregular periods, the woman only found out in October 2019, that she was six months pregnant. The man refused to marry her. She left her residence to keep her pregnancy a secret. The child was born on January 27, 2020. On January 30, 2020, she left the baby in the compound of a place in Marine Lines. After the watchman took the child inside, she left.
An FIR was registered on February 24, 2020 for rape, kidnapping a woman to induce her to illicit intercourse and cheating. He was arrested the next day. His advocate submitted that he is ready to marry her and accept the child. Prosecutor Rutuja Ambekar said the child, who was admitted in a child care institution, was given away in adoption.
Justice Dangre noted that when the incident was reported, the survivor was a major and had stated that the relationship was consensual. Also, though the accused and his family are ready to solemnise the marriage, she is not traceable. In these circumstances, she granted him bail subjecting him to the condition.
“I deem it appropriate to release the applicant on bail subject to compliance that if the survivor is traced within a short while, say in a period of one year, he shall solemnise marriage with her, but he shall not be bound by the statement beyond one year,” said Justice Bharati Dangre in her order.
The chargesheet said the complainant (22) knew the accused (26) since 2018 as they were neighbours. They fell in love and their families were aware of it. They had physical relations and she trusted him as he had assured her he would marry her
Due to her history of irregular periods, the woman only found out in October 2019, that she was six months pregnant. The man refused to marry her. She left her residence to keep her pregnancy a secret. The child was born on January 27, 2020. On January 30, 2020, she left the baby in the compound of a place in Marine Lines. After the watchman took the child inside, she left.
An FIR was registered on February 24, 2020 for rape, kidnapping a woman to induce her to illicit intercourse and cheating. He was arrested the next day. His advocate submitted that he is ready to marry her and accept the child. Prosecutor Rutuja Ambekar said the child, who was admitted in a child care institution, was given away in adoption.
Justice Dangre noted that when the incident was reported, the survivor was a major and had stated that the relationship was consensual. Also, though the accused and his family are ready to solemnise the marriage, she is not traceable. In these circumstances, she granted him bail subjecting him to the condition.
