Shivangi Prakash-
Published on: 19 August, 2021 at 13:15 IST
While denying bail to a man accused of raping a thirteen-year-old girl, the Allahabad High Court criticized the surge in child sexual abuse cases in India.
Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh remarked,
“In this case, a small innocent girl has been raped, who does not understand its meaning. Little girls are worshiped in our country, but the cases of pedophilia are increasing. Rape is a heinous crime. The victim suffers from psychological effects of embarrassment, disgust, depression, guilt and even suicidal tendencies. Many cases go unreported. In almost rape cases, the victim was unwilling to report the name of the abuser” the Court said
The Court went on to say that small children who have been sexually abused even once are more vulnerable to abuse as adults, and that healing can be lengthy and methodical.
The High Court, in rejecting the bail request, said that if the appropriate judgement is not reached by the Court at the right time, victims’ and the general public’s trust in the justice system will be lost.
Jasman Singh, who was accused under Sections 323, 376(2)(1), 452, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as Sections 3 and 4 of the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO Act), filed the bail application
The event occurred in January 2019, while the thirteen-year-old victim was alone at home, according to the prosecution.
The accused allegedly took advantage of the situation by forcing his way into the residence and threatening to kill the victim. The accused is also suspected of dragging the girl inside a room by her hair and raping her.
When her family returned home, the victim was said to have been found unconscious and naked. The accused tried of attempting to flee by climbing a wall, but was apprehended on the scene.
Denying the claims, the accused claimed that the victim and he were having a love affair and that she had called him herself.
It was also alleged that there was also a conflict between the victim’s family and the accused over some land, which led to him being wrongly implicated in the case.
The Court, on the other hand, found that no evidence had been offered to substantiate the accused’s claim regarding the supposed land dispute.
The Court dismissed the bail application due to these grounds and the seriousness of the alleged crime.