US woman upset over HC granting bail to rape convict, releases video

The Delhi High Court has granted bail and suspended the seven years' sentence awarded to a man for digitally raping an American woman who recently shot a video outside the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, alleging that she was denied assistance there.

The incident dates back to 2013, when Delhi resident Rajiv Panwar sexually assaulted the US national who was staying as a tenant in his house in South Delhi with her husband. She filed a complaint against him in June 2013 and Panwar was convicted of rape by a trial court here in February 2019. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.

When someone rapes a person using their finger or fingers it is termed as digital rape.

Panwar challenged the trial court's verdict in the high court which, on July 5, granted him bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and said as the disposal of the appeal may take some time, the substantive sentence of the appellant is suspended during the pendency of the plea.

Upset with the high court's order, the woman shot a video in front of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, complaining that the man who attacked her in India has been granted bail.

In the video, the woman said, "Last month I was notified that the man who viciously attacked me, who I had to fight to make sure he was convicted of his crime and he was sentenced in India, has been given bail on his appeal."