Unnatural for Indian culture that man would rape his daughter-in-law: Allahabad HC

PRAYAGRAJ: Observing that it was unnatural for Indian culture that a man would rape his daughter-in-law, Allahabad high court granted pre-arrest bail to a rape accused from Saharanpur district."Considering the nature of accusations and the antecedents of the applicant, considering the gravity of the offence, considering that it is quite unnatural that a father-in-law shall commit rape of his own daughter-in-law along with some other person in our Indian culture," Justice Ajit Singh said.Granting anticipatory bail to one Babu Khan, who -- along with another person -- was accused of raping his own daughter-in-law, Justice Singh observed, “Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, considering that the accusation has been made falsely with the object of injuring or humiliating his (applicant’s) reputation in society, and also considering the apex court’s decisions, the anticipatory bail is granted.”“In the event of arrest of the applicant, he shall be released on anticipatory bail on his fulfilling certain conditions,” the court added.The first information report (FIR) was lodged by the alleged victim against her own father-in-law Babu Khan under sections 376 (rape) and other sections of IPC at police station Janakpuri of Saharanpur district.It was alleged that the applicant along with co-accused came to the house of victim’s brother when she was alone and asked the whereabouts of her brother. When the victim said that her brother was not at home then the father-in-law of the victim started abusing her. It was further mentioned in the FIR that the alleged victim tried to stop him then she was pushed on the bed by him, then both the accused tried to rape her.During the court proceedings, the counsel for the applicant contended that the other co-accused had already been granted anticipatory bail by this court. The case of the applicant stands on identical footing, hence the applicant is also entitled for anticipatory bail on the ground of parity. “The applicant is having definite apprehension that he may be arrested by the police any time,” the counsel for the applicant added.“Though the state counsel opposed the request for anticipatory bail of the applicant, he did not dispute the claim of parity,” the court said while granting anticipatory bail in its decision dated May 18.