SC notice to Bihar legislator on plea challenging bail in rape case

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to a Bihar legislator, accused of raping a minor girl, on the state's petition seeking cancellation of his bail granted by the Patna High Court.

A bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice N.V. Ramana, however, declined to stay, the Patna High Court's order, saying it could not do so without hearing the accused -- Rashtriya Janata Dal lawmaker, Rajballav Yadav.

Bihar government counsel Gopal Singh, while pressing for the stay of the High Court order granting bail, said that "the examination of prosecutrix (victim girl) is going on".

Issuing notice returnable on October 17, the court permitted the Bihar government to serve notice to the accused in person.

While issuing the notice, Justice Sikri, however, observed: "Chief Justice (of Patna High Court) hearing bail matters."

Rajballav Yadav, the MLA 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 absconding but surrendered in court in March. He was granted bail by the High Court on September 30.

He was named one of the five accused in the charge sheet filed in April.

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

--IANS

pk/vd