New Delhi: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted bail to a man accused of outraging the modesty of a woman on the condition that he requests the complainant to tie him a rakhi.
The order passed on 30 July by Justice Rohit Arya read, “The applicant along with his wife shall visit the house of the complainant with rakhi thread / band on 3rd August 2020 at 11 am with a box of sweets and request the complainant…to tie the rakhi…on him with the promise to protect her to the best of his ability for all times to come.”
The bail applicant, identified only as Vikram, was also asked to give the complainant Rs 11,000 as a “customary ritual usually offered by brothers to sisters on such occasions and shall also seek her blessings”.
He was also asked to give Rs 5,000 to the complainant’s son “for purchase of clothes and sweets”.
“The applicant shall obtain photographs and receipts of payment made to the complainant and her son, and the same shall be filed through the counsel for placing… on record of this case before this registry,” the court directed.
Vikram has been accused under Sections 452 (house trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 354A (sexual harassment), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Also read: Why Dr Kafeel Khan is still in jail — a 40-yr-old law, judicial delays, Covid & ‘retribution’
Accused asked to install Aaroyga Setu app on phone
The accused had allegedly gone to the complainant’s house at 2.30 am on 20 April and attempted to harass her. While seeking bail, the man however submitted that he was falsely implicated.
The court allowed his bail application, noting that he has been in jail for more than two months and was no longer needed for custodial interrogation. He was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000.
In addition to the usual bail conditions, he was also asked to install the Aarogya Setu app on his phone.
Also read: HC reduces acid attack convict’s term, says frustration with wife ‘mitigating circumstance’