“Unbecoming of an Indian Woman to Sleep after being Ravished”: Court grants Bail to Rape Accused - Report

The Karnataka High Court granted bail to a rape accused after saying that it was “unbecoming of an Indian woman” to sleep after being “ravished.”

Justice Krishna S Dixit expressed that the complainant’s version of the case was rather doubtful. “The explanation offered by the complainant that after she perpetration of the act she was tired and fell asleep, is unbecoming of an Indian woman; this is not the way our women react when they are ravished,” he said.

“The version of the complainant that she had been to Indraprastha Hotel for dinner and that the petitioner having consumed drinks came and sat in the car, even if is assumed to be true, there is no explanation offered for not alerting the police or the public about the conduct of the petitioner,” Dixit said.

He also added that the complainant couldn’t explain or state her reasons for having to visit her office at 11pm. “She has also not objected to consuming drinks with the petitioner and allowing him to stay with her till morning… The version of the complainant that she was subjected to rape on the false promise of marriage in the given circumstances of the case is bit difficult to believe at this stage,” he concluded.

Hence, the court granted the pre-arrest bail on a personal bond of Rs.1 lakh after considering that the prisoners are at a greater risk of the coronavirus. The accused is also instructed to not leave the jurisdiction of the court and to mark his attendance every alternate Saturday at the police station.