‘Suspicious investigation’: Ahmedabad court grants bail to rape accused arrested 27 years after crime

Ahmedabad: A sessions court has granted regular bail to a man arrested 27 years after the alleged offence, observing that the investigation appeared “suspicious” and the proceedings “dubious”. While the prosecution opposed bail on the grounds that the accused had been absconding, the court noted he had remained active in his village throughout.

According to the prosecution, the 58-year-old was accused of raping a 25-year-old married woman in Feb 1999 and had been unavailable for investigation since. He was arrested and jailed on May 5.

Seeking bail, the lawyer of the accused submitted documents showing that he had not been absconding but was present in his village all along, arguing there was no risk of him fleeing justice. The prosecution opposed the plea.

After the hearing, Bindu Mehta, additional district judge at the Ahmedabad rural court said, “Investigation of the present case has already taken around more than 25 years, which shows the suspicious investigation as well as makes the proceedings dubious. Considering the case diary produced by the investigating officer, no investigation was carried out after Dec 1, 2000. Whereas, the applicant-accused has produced documents before this court which show that the accused is active in his own village.”

The court added that, considering the facts and circumstances, the submissions of counsel and the evidence on record, the accused had made out a case for bail.

The court further said, “Furthermore, applicant-accused has undergone considerable period of time in jail and further keeping him behind bars will expose him to company of hardened criminals.”