SC defers deposition of minor raped by RJD lawmaker

The Supreme Court on Tuesday put on hold the deposition of a minor, who was allegedly raped by RJD lawmaker Rajballav Yadav, till October 24, as the accused sought more time to file his reply to the plea for cancellation of his bail.

The rape victim was to depose before the trial court on Wednesday.

The bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice N.V. Ramana had on October 7 sought Yadav's reply to the Bihar government's plea for cancellation of the bail granted to him by the Patna High Court.

The bench gave time to Yadav after his counsel said that the notice was served on his client on Monday (October 17) only.

The deposition by the rape victim slated for Wednesday was sought to be deferred by Bihar government counsel Gopal Singh on the ground that the victim was too scared of the accused lawmaker.

The apex court had on October 7 declined to stay the Patna High Court's order granting him bail, saying it could not do so without hearing accused Yadav.

Yadav, the lgislator from Nawada, was accused of raping a school-going girl at his residence in Bihar Sharif in February this year.

He was suspended from the party after the incident surfaced. However, he continues to be an RJD lawmaker in the state assembly.

Yadav, who was denied anticipatory bail by a local court in Bihar Sharif in February, was on the run but surrendered in court in March. He was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 30.

He was named as one of the five accused in the chargesheet filed in April.

Besides Yadav, the chargesheet named Sulekha Devi and others, who were accused of supplying girls to the RJD lawmaker.

--IANS

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