The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Bail denied to rape accused

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 03, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bail denied to rape accused

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: “Go back to sleep. I am only watching a movie along with my friends on television.” This is what one of the four accused told his grandmother when he was allegedly raping a schoolgirl in Karur village of Siriguppa taluk in Bellary district.

The four accused, K. Mallikarjuna alias Mallika, Narasaiah, Ramesh and P. Raghavendra, are all residents of Karur. It was their revenge after the girl complained to her mother and brother about Mallika and Narasaiah teasing and throwing stones at her when she was going to school, according to the police. The girl’s mother and brother had reprimanded them for their misbehaviour.

On February 8, 2007, the four waylaid the girl, the complaint said. She had gone to her neighbour’s house for joint study and was returning home to pick up a textbook when the accused gagged her and forced her into Narasaiah’s house.

The accused then forced her to watch porn films and Narasaiah and Mallikarjuna raped her even as Ramesh and Raghavendra stood guard near the door, according to the complaint. Narasaiah’s grandmother, who was sleeping outside, woke up on hearing the noise but he told her he and his friends were watching a film and that she should go back to sleep.

The girl told her family what had happened. A police complaint was lodged and all four accused were arrested.

The Bellary Sessions Judge had rejected bail, saying that he found no reason to disbelieve the schoolgirl’s version. The accused had then moved the High Court for bail.

The State Public Prosecutor opposed bail, saying that medical examination and even the Forensic Science Laboratory report had indicated rape.

The prosecutor said bail should not be given to these accused as they have committed a heinous crime.

Justice H. Billappa rejected the bail plea.

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