A sessions court in Mumbai on Tuesday granted bail to Nitin Chandrapratap Shukla, an assistant municipal commissioner with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), who was arrested on allegations of sexual assault based on a false promise of marriage.
Case Background
On April 27, the Parksite police station arrested Shukla following a complaint filed by an architect. The complainant met Shukla professionally while he was serving as a sub-engineer in the building proposal department. Over time, their professional relationship evolved into friendship and they remained in regular contact.
The complainant alleged that Shukla informed her about marital discord with his wife and promised to marry her after obtaining a divorce. She further claimed that Shukla established physical relations with her between September 2023 and January 2026, but later refused to fulfill his promise of marriage.
Arguments in Court
During the bail hearing, Shukla's counsel, Sudeep Pasbola, argued that both the accused and the complainant were mature adults and that the complainant was fully aware that Shukla was already married. The defense also alleged that the complainant had started extorting money from Shukla in 2026.
On the other hand, Advocate Bhomesh Bellam, representing the complainant, contended that Shukla used deceitful means by promising marriage to establish physical relations with her.
Court's Observations and Decision
Additional Sessions Judge S K Karhale observed that both parties were educated adults who had maintained a prolonged relationship. The court noted that the accused had been in custody for over a month, the investigation was complete, and there was no likelihood of the trial commencing in the near future. Consequently, the court granted bail to Shukla on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety of the like amount. The court also directed Shukla not to tamper with prosecution witnesses.
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About the Author: Ahmed Ali S, Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Mumbai, covers crime and related issues but sometimes also takes up offbeat subjects. His interests include automobiles, particularly bikes, and gymming.
