In a decision that raises more questions than answers, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to a rape accused—on the condition that he marries the alleged victim within three months.
The order, issued by Justice Krishan Pahal, does not clarify why this stipulation was imposed or whether the complainant had any say in the matter.
The accused, a 26-year-old man, was arrested in September 2024 after being charged under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rape and criminal intimidation, as well as provisions of the Information Technology Act. Authorities allege he lured the victim under the pretense of helping her secure a police job, took ₹9 lakh from her, sexually assaulted her, and later circulated an obscene video of her online.
During the bail proceedings, the accused insisted the charges were false, pointing to a four-month delay in filing the FIR. The court, in its ruling, noted the prosecution had not presented any exceptional circumstances to justify continued detention. It cited legal principles emphasizing that bail should be the norm rather than the exception.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the court granted bail while attaching the unusual requirement of marriage—a decision that remains unexplained in the official order.
