HC rejects anticipatory bail to 59-year-old rape accused

The Madras High Court today rejected the anticipatory bail plea of a 59-year-old man, who allegedly raped a minor girl repeatedly and made her pregnant, observing that such act was an offence against society.
Justice S Vaidynathan of Madurai bench of the HC, who dismissed the application of the man of Pallathur in neighbouring Sivaganga district, said "raping a minor girl is an offence committed against society and punishment alone could act as a deterrent."
The Judge said the Supreme Court had also held that crime against the women and children, more particularly, was a "monstrous burial of dignity of a woman in the darkness, and it was a crime against the holy body of a woman and the soul of a society."

The petitioner apprehended arrest in connection with the complaint lodged by the 13-year-old girl with Kothamangalam All-Woman police station that he raped her early this year when she was alone in her house.
The minor girl had also stated that he gave her Rs 20 and threatened her against revealing the incident. Later, he repeatedly raped her and she was found to be pregnant last month.
On her complaint, police registered cases against the man under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 and Section 376 of IPC (rape).
Petitioner, however, submitted he had not committed any offence and was innocent, and the complaint was filed to damage his dignity.

The Judge said the charge against the man was a serious one and rejected the anticipatory bail, though whether the petitioner had committed rape or not was a point to be decided by the trial court.