Pune: A special court has denied bail to an army havaldar accused of assaulting a woman under the pretext of marriage. Special Judge S.R. Narawade delivered the verdict, citing concerns over threats to the victim’s safety and possible tampering with evidence.
The court noted that the Indian Army is a pillar of national integrity, and the accused had attempted to tarnish its reputation. Chat records between the accused and the complainant revealed that the woman was threatened and feared for her safety. If the accused were released on bail, it could endanger the complainant’s life. The court also expressed concerns about potential evidence tampering.
Case Background
A 30-year-old woman filed a complaint at Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station, leading to a case being registered under charges of assault, intimidation, and the Atrocities Act. The accused, who had been married twice, met the complainant through a matrimonial website. He allegedly lured her with false promises of marriage and later assaulted her. After being taken into judicial custody, the accused filed for bail in the Sessions Court, claiming that his arrest was unlawful and demanding release from custody.
Legal Arguments Against Bail
Special Public Prosecutor Bharti Kadam and the complainant’s lawyer Advocate Ketankumar Jadhav strongly opposed the bail plea. Kadam argued that the police had sought approval from the accused’s senior officers before proceeding with the arrest.
The accused's office followed proper legal procedures before handing him over to the investigating officer. Given these circumstances, the court ruled that the accused would not be granted bail at this stage.