At bail hearing, HC throws light on 2009 acid attack case

Cuttack: Fifteen years after a woman suffered severe burns on her face and lost eyesight following an acid attack by a spurned lover, the case is back in focus with the Orissa high court asking the victim to be produced before the superintendent of SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack to find about her condition and whether she needs additional treatment.The high court was hearing a bail petition filed by Santosh Kumar Bedant, who was convicted as the prime accused in the acid attack case and sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment by the assistant sessions judge (women’s court), Jagatsinghpur, on May 9, 2022.In the direction issued on February 8, Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo said, “She will be examined by a team of doctors formed by the superintendent of SCBMCH and if proper facilities for her treatment are available, so far as plastic reconstructive surgery is concerned, then the same has to be immediately provided to her free of cost.”He added, “If the said treatment is not available in SCBMCH, the state shall make necessary arrangements for the treatment of the victim in other government/private hospitals either inside the state or outside.”The woman was 17 years old when the incident took place at a village in Jagatsinghpur district. On May 4, 2009, Bedant threw acid on her face after she turned down his marriage proposal. She suffered severe burn injuries, lost her eyesight and has been living in trauma since. Following a surgery in Chennai in September 2017, she regained partial vision in her left eye.The HC issued the order after taking on record the photograph of the woman produced before it by the state counsel. Justice Sahoo said, “The photograph of the victim which shows her face has been completely disfigured on account of acid attack. After perusing the photograph of the woman, it is apparent she needs medical intervention, especially surgical treatment, i.e. plastic reconstructive surgery.”Accordingly, Justice Sahoo directed the superintendent of police, Jagatsinghpur, to do the needful in making necessary arrangements for producing the woman before the superintendent of SCBMCH.Justice Sahoo further directed the Jagatsinghpur SP to “submit a report regarding medical treatment along with a copy of the report of the superintendent of SCBMCH on the next date (February 26)”.