SANTHOSH KUMAR Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is filed by the petitioner-accused No.1 under Sec. 438 of Cr.P.C., for granting anticipatory bail in Crime No.30/2022 registered by Hassan Women Police Station, Hassan, for the offences punishable under Ss. 420, 342, 376 , 506 read with 34 of IPC .

(2.) Heard the arguments of learned counsel for petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent-State.

(3.) The case of the prosecution is that on the complaint of the father of the victim namely Ramesha who filed complaint to the police on 26/6/2022 alleging that his daughter/victim girl aged about 24 years, who is a practicing advocate came in contact with petitioner who is also said to be an advocate by profession and a law graduate. Both of them used to attend the cases in Courts at Aluru, Holenarasipura, Arakalugoodu etc., That on 31/12/2021 the petitioner said to have taken the victim girl in motorcycle to his senior advocate's house stating that he has to bring some file from his seniors house. When both of them went to the house, nobody were there and accused said to have told the victim girl to see the house from inside where the seniors and his wife were residing, but they were not there at home. Believing him, she went inside the house and the petitioner locked the victim girl and said to have forcefully committed rape on her from 5.30 p.m. till the next day 8.30 a.m. at various intervals and sexually assaulted her. Thereafter, he said to have threatened her not to disclose the same to anybody. Later, the petitioner said to have avoided her contact, therefore she revealed the same to her father. Thereafter, they went to the house of the accused and approached their parents and sister. But they also said to have neglected the request of the complainant. Therefore, on 26/6/2022, the victim said to have attempted to commit suicide by consuming the pesticide kept in the house. Later, when she was admitted to the hospital, the complaint came to be lodged against the accused. It is further alleged that after registering the case, the police tried to arrest the petitioner, hence he has approached the Sessions Judge for granting anticipatory bail, which came to be rejected. Hence the petitioner is before this court.