Man accused of raping minor fiancee gets bail

The Delhi High Court Monday granted bail to a man accused of raping his 15-year-old fiancee, holding that the physical relationship between them was consensual and that police arbitrarily and without any justification sent him to jail.

Justice Pratibha Rani granted bail to the man, a resident of Punjab, and said there was no doubt that the girl was a minor and in her statement to police she said that she had gone with the man of her own free will.

"She (the girl) has further stated that the man is her boyfriend and their family members are now ready for their marriage," the court said.

The court granted bail to the man on a personal bond of Rs.25,000 with one surety of the like amount.

The bail plea said the man's parents performed the engagement ceremony with the minor girl at Lajpat Nagar here in March. She later went to his house and started living with him without informing her family.

The girl's parents lodged a missing complaint July 20, saying their daughter left the house without informing anyone.

Police registered a complaint and arrested the man on charges of kidnapping and rape and also under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.