Belagavi woman assault: Karnataka High Court grants bail to 11 accused

The Karnataka High Court on April 15 granted bail to six men and five women booked for beating and disrobing a 42-year-old woman in Belagavi because her son had eloped with a girl on the eve of her engagement to another [Raju and Ors. v State of Karnataka]. .Justice S Vishwajith Shetty noted that the investigation was complete, some accused were women, one was a 19-year-old boy and that none of the accused had criminal background.."Petitioners are basically agriculturist's by avocation. Petitioner Nos.3, 4, 6, 8 and 9 are ladies. Petitioner No.7 is aged about 19 years and is said to be a student. Petitioners do not have any criminal background," the order dated April 15 stated..The incident took place before dawn on December 11, 2023 after the victim woman's son eloped with a girl from the same village, who was to marry another man.The woman is said to have been tied to a pole, beaten, stripped and paraded in the village after the girl's relatives came to know that she had run away from home.Police officers are said to have rushed to the spot to rescue the woman, after a villager tipped off the authorities.The High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident on December 12, 2023. Subsequently, the accused were arrested.Their applications for bail before the trial court were rejected. Hence, they moved the High Court..Accused in Belagavi woman assault case arrested, victim will be allotted land: State to Karnataka High Court.Advocate Raviraj C Patil for the accused and told the Court that the parties had no ill will against each other before the incident and that the investigation was complete, with the chargesheet being filed. He further claimed that the victim-woman had not suffered any grievous injuries..On the other hand, High Court Government Pleader (HCGP) Jairam Siddi contended that the accused had committed a heinous crime.He informed the Court that the victim was tied, disrobed and assaulted and therefore, no leniency could be shown to the accused..The Court noted that as per medical records, the victim had not suffered grievous injuries.Further, it noted that the allegations of disrobing were against only three accused — all women — of which one had already been granted bail.Thereafter, based on the first information report (FIR) and chargesheet, the Court concluded that the accused had no motive or ill will against the victim."It is only after the daughter of accused No.1 had eloped with the son of the victim, the alleged incident had taken place," it said.The Court then noted that the investigation was complete, some accused were women, one was a 19-year-old boy and that none of the accused had a criminal background.Therefore, the Court allowed the application and granted bail to the eleven accused subject to them executing personal bonds for a sum of ₹1,00,000 each with two sureties for the same amount..[Read Order]