Law

Chief Justice of India asks man if he ‘will marry’ minor he is accused of repeatedly raping

“I wanted to marry her. But she refused. Now I cannot, as I am already married”

The Chief Justice of India SA Bobde asked a government servant accused of repeatedly raping a minor girl whether he would marry the survivor.

The Court was hearing an appeal against a verdict of the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court by which an order of the Sessions Court granting the appellant anticipatory bail was set aside.

When the matter was taken up today, CJI Bobde asked counsel for the petitioner, “Will you marry her?”

To this, the advocate replied, “I will take instructions.”

“You should have thought before seducing and raping the young girl. You knew you are a government servant,” was CJI Bobde’s response.

“We are not forcing you to marry. Let us know if you will. Otherwise you will say we are forcing you to marry her,” the CJI went on to observe.

When the matter was heard again shortly thereafter, counsel for the petitioner said, “I wanted to marry her. But she refused. Now I cannot, as I am already married. Trial is going on, charges are yet to be framed.”

The Court went on to stay the arrest of the petitioner, granting him interim protection for four weeks.

In the meanwhile, the petitioner was asked to apply for regular bail.

 

Free Press Kashmir is now on Telegram. Click here to Join.
FPK Android App for 2G. Click here to Download

Click to comment
To Top