Telangana HC cites woman’s criminal history, grants man anticipatory bail in sexual assault case | Hyderabad News

“Considering the facts of the case, this court deems it fit to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner,” Justice K Sujana said in her order.

The case stems from a complaint filed by a 23-year-old woman on June 11 this year. The woman claimed that she was offered a job by the accused, who then coaxed her into a relationship, forced her into sex, and then blackmailed her for money.

According to the complainant, the accused drugged her and took her to an isolated location to sexually assault her. She also presented evidence of alleged chats from a colleague of the accused, suggesting a pattern of similar exploitation and financial fraud against other women.

However, the counsel for the accused contended that he was innocent and that the woman was a “habitual complainant” who had previously filed similar false complaints against “many other innocent persons”. The counsel also pointed to a past criminal case against the complainant in Haryana for offences of extortion and presented a copy of a petition she had filed before a family court in Gurgaon, suggesting she was a married woman.

While the prosecution emphasised the “heinous” nature and “severity” of the allegations, arguing for the dismissal of the bail petition, the court ultimately sided with the defence.

The judge stated that the accused is required to surrender before the special sessions judge within two weeks and post a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with two sureties. Additionally, he must appear before the station house officer concerned every Wednesday for eight weeks to cooperate with the investigation, the judge added.