HC grants interim bail to doc, trader in minor’s rape case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted interim anticipatory bail to a Chandigarh-based doctor and a trader in a case of a minor’s rape.

Among other things, it was contended that the FIR in the matter registered on May 25 was a counter-blast to an extortion case registered on April 17 on the doctor’s complaint.

Appearing before Justice Harkesh Manuja’s Bench, senior advocate Bipan Ghai and counsel Nikhil Ghai contended on behalf of petitioners Dr Gurcharan Singh Sagar and Kashturi Lal that the FIR regarding the alleged occurrence was registered after an unexplained delay of four years.

Justice Manuja’s Bench was also told that the incident’s specific date was not mentioned by the complainant. Giving details, the counsel added the rape FIR was a counter-blast to extortion case registered at the instance of Dr Sagar.

The counsel added that Sagar received an extortion call from an unknown person claiming to be an advocate demanding money from him and co-accused on the threat of falsely implicating them in the rape case. The two then forwarded a complaint to UT Senior Superintendent of Police

“It is crystal clear that the prosecutrix lodged the present FIR just to put pressure, harass and blackmail the petitioner and his co-accused… This FIR has been registered to put pressure upon the present petitioner and co-accused not to peruse the FIR got registered against the present prosecutrix/complainant and her aide,” the counsel added.

Issuing notice of motion for August 18, Justice Manuja directed the petitioners to join the probe before the investigating officer as and when called. “In the event of his arrest, the arresting officer would admit him to interim bail, till the next date of hearing, on his furnishing adequate bail bonds/ surety bonds to his satisfaction,” Justice Manuja asserted before directing the petitioner to abide by all the bail conditions envisaged under Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Chandigarh