The Karnataka High Court has rejected bail for a man accused of facilitating a rape near Bengaluru’s KR Puram railway station, emphasising the need to protect women’s dignity. In its ruling, the court referenced a Manusmriti verse on respecting women and a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, underscoring the societal impact of such crimes. The decision, delivered on September 4 by Justice S Rachaiah, highlighted the severity of the offence and its lasting trauma on the survivor.
The case involves a 19-year-old woman from a Scheduled Tribe community in Banka, Bihar, whose parents work at a cardamom estate in Kerala. On April 2, 2025, she arrived at KR Puram railway station around 1:30 AM, accompanied by her cousin, intending to head to Mahadevapura for a meal. According to the prosecution, two men accosted them near the station. One allegedly restrained the cousin while the other dragged the woman to a secluded spot and raped her. Locals intervened after hearing her cries, apprehending the alleged rapist before police arrested both men.
The accused faced charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including rape, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and common intention, as well as provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The defence argued that the petitioner was falsely implicated and had no direct role in the assault. However, the prosecution countered that he actively enabled the crime by threatening the cousin, preventing any resistance.
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Justice Rachaiah, in denying bail, described the incident as a “scar” on the survivor’s life, noting the profound emotional toll. The court invoked Manusmriti’s verse, “Where women are respected, divinity thrives; where they are dishonoured, all deeds lose value,” and Gandhi’s words: “The day a woman can walk freely on the road at night, that day we can say India has achieved independence.” The ruling reinforces the judiciary’s stance on protecting women’s safety and dignity in India.
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