Court Rejects Bail for Accused in 17-Year-Old's Abduction and Rape Case

The case is from police station Kotwali Hathras Junction area. The teenager's father had filed a report in the police station on September 2. It was alleged that on September 1, his 17-year-old daughter has been lured away by Himanshu Yadav. The police had filed a case and after investigation filed a charge sheet against the accused in the court under sections of abduction, rape and POCSO Act. During the ad-hoc hearing, the defence counsel argued that the victim had gone voluntarily and has not made any allegation of abduction or rape against the accused in her statements before the police and the magistrate. The two love each other and are married in a temple. The special public prosecutor strongly opposed the bail, arguing that the victim is a minor and as per the medical examination, she is almost 19-20 weeks pregnant. The adalat, after perusing the documents and evidence, clarified in its order that the victim is 17 years old, which means her consent does not carry any legal weight. The bail application of Himanshu Yadav was rejected by the court in view of the seriousness of the heinous crime.