Bombay High Court has denied bail to a man accused of raping a minor and attempting to dispose of a premature foetus. the accused revealed that he had engaged in “illicit relations” with his minor next-door neighbor, leading to her pregnancy.
The Bombay High Court has denied bail to a man accused of raping a minor and attempting to dispose of a premature foetus. The case has drawn significant attention due to its sensitive nature and the serious allegations involved.
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The incident came to light when the police were tipped off about an individual attempting to dispose of a foetus. Upon arriving at the scene, authorities found the accused being assaulted by a group of locals. During the interrogation, the accused revealed that he had engaged in “illicit relations” with his minor next-door neighbor, leading to her pregnancy. In an attempt to conceal this, he admitted to administering pills to the minor to induce a miscarriage.
Justice Prithviraj K Chavan while hearing the case remarked that had genuine affection existed, the individual wouldn’t have endeavored to harm their own child.
“The accused has been appropriately charged under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) since the victim was below 18 years of age. If there had been authentic love for the victim, the accused would not have inflicted harm on their own child,”
The prosecution detailed the events leading to the miscarriage, which occurred in August 2019. Following the miscarriage, the accused attempted to dispose of the foetus, an act that led to his apprehension by the police. The legal proceedings against him include severe charges under Section 315 (act done with intent to prevent a child from being born alive or to cause it to die after birth), Section 318 (concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body), and Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), alongside relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The court’s decision to deny bail reflects the gravity with which the judicial system views offenses involving minors, especially in cases of sexual assault and the subsequent concealment of evidence. This ruling sends a clear message about the consequences of such heinous acts and the importance of upholding the rights and safety of minors.
“The victim’s statement indicates that the accused engaged in forcible sexual intercourse leading to her pregnancy and subsequently coerced her into taking pills for abortion. Considering the gravity of the offense and the potential for influencing witnesses and tampering with evidence, this is not an appropriate scenario for granting bail to the applicant,”
stated the Court.
The case continues to be a focal point in discussions about legal justice for minors and the enforcement of stringent measures against those who commit crimes against them. The Bombay High Court’s ruling not only denies the accused the opportunity for bail but also reinforces the legal framework designed to protect the most vulnerable members of society.