City court grants bail to the Safdarjung rape accused

New Delhi, June 3 (UNI) A city court today granted bail to prime accused Sanjay in the Safdarjung rape case.

Patiala House Court Additional Sessions Judge S P Garg granted bail to Sanjay, and ordered him to furnish a bail bond of Rs 10,000 and surety of same amount.

Sanjay was in judicial custody since last December 16.

The victim did not support the prosecution regarding the involvement of Sanjay and the DNA report was also found negative.

On April 24, the victim herself deposed in the court saying that the accused did not rape her and the police had taken her signature in a blank paper on September 17, 2005, which gave a major setback to the prosecution side.

The Court, on January 28, had framed charges against the prime accused Sanjay of allegedly raping the woman. The court also framed charges against one of his associate's Hariom, who had taken victim's jewellery.

According to the police, Sanjay, listed as a 'bad character' at the Hauz Khas police station, was a chronic alcoholic and would often loiter in and around Safdarjung Hospital in an inebriated state. He also duped patients or their attendants off their money by posing as an employee of the hospital and promising to get their jobs done.

During interrogation, Sanjay allegedly confessed that he assaulted the victim in an inebriated state.

After criminally assaulting her, Sanjay had bolted the door from outside and fled, after which, the victim raised an alarm alerting some passers-by who opened the door.

The victim then narrated the incident to her sister-in-law who came along with her.

The incident took place on September 14, 2005, on the fifth floor at the OPD (Out-Patients Department) of Safdurjung hospital.

Sanjay, a resident of Sahpurjat was arrested on September 16, under Sections 354 (assault on a woman to outrage her modesty) and the Arms Act.

The police had arrested Hariom to recover the stolen jewellery from him, according to the prosecution.

Sanjay was charged under Sections 376 (Rape), 392 (Robbery) and 506 (Criminal intimidation) whereas Hariom was charged under Section 411 (Dishonestly receiving stolen property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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