Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Friday granted bail to a rape accused who had married the victim while he was on interim bail.
The accused, Gyanaranjan Behera, was arrested on February 13, 2020 in a POCSO case registered at Handapa police station in Angul district. The case is pending for trial in the Special POCSO Court, Angul, according to a TNIE report.
After his arrest, Behera had applied for bail before the High Court. While the plea was pending, he sought interim bail for two months to prepare for the marriage with the victim girl.
He claimed that the girl is a major and both of them are ready to marry each other with consent of their parents. The Single Judge Bench of the High Court Justice SK Panigrahi allowed interim bail for 30 days to Behera on June 2. Later, he surrendered and was in custody since July 6.
When Behera’s bail petition came up before the Single Judge Bench of Justice Bibhu Prasad Routray on Friday, his counsel submitted that during the period of his interim bail, he had married the victim and she is now residing as the wife of the petitioner in his house. An affidavit was also filed on his behalf in this regard.
Considering the submission, Justice Routray directed that the petitioner be released on bail in the case on such terms and conditions to be fixed by the trial court.
