HC directs gangrape accused to surrender after marriage

A gangrape accused had a court order directing him to surrender before police in Nagercoil district back in his mind when he got married today.
The Madras High Court directed G Gnana Pravin alias Arun to surrender before police after his marriageand join the investigation.
The Madurai bench of the court was hearing the anticipatory bail application of Arun, who claimed that he was innocent.
He alleged that the police had registered the case against him because he was trying to help the de facto complainant's lover and was arranging for her marriage with her lover by pledging her jewels.

The petitioner said his marriage had been fixed with another girl and it would take place today, and he was willing to surrender before the police after his marriage.
Arun filed his affidavit through fax.

The court said normally it would not accept statement sent by fax by an accused. But in this case the petitioner was living in Kanyakumari and his counsel had undertaken to produce the original of the petitioner's statement in the court on November 8.
"In view of the statement, the petitioner is directed to surrender before the Vadaseri police after the marriage. Till then police should not arrest him," the court said.

On his surrender the police shall take him into custody for the purpose of investigation on the basis of the complaint, the court said, adding, the order would not preclude the petitioner from filing a plea before appropriate court after his incarceration and lower court may consider the case on merits.