The Delhi High Court has announced that it will pass an order on June 29 regarding the cancellation of bail granted to a 57-year-old caretaker accused of raping a three-year-old girl inside a private school in west Delhi. The case has drawn widespread attention due to the young age of the victim and the nature of the crime.
Court Reserves Verdict on Bail Cancellation Pleas
A Vacation Bench of Justice Vinod Kumar reserved its verdict on petitions filed by the Delhi Police and the complainant against the trial court’s May 7 order that released Lalit Kumar on bail. The accused was charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which mandates stringent provisions for such offenses.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the police, argued strongly for the cancellation of bail. He contended that the trial court should not have granted any reprieve to the main accused, given the gravity of the allegations. “It was not a case in which the trial court should have granted a reprieve to the main accused,” Raju submitted before the bench.
Allegations of Threat by Accused’s Son
In a related development, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the son of the accused had threatened the rape survivor’s mother. Speaking to the media, Bharadwaj said, “A shocking incident has taken place. Today, at the Delhi High Court, the mother of a three-year-old rape survivor alleged that she was threatened by the accused’s son. The son of the 57-year-old accused threatened that she would face the same fate as her three-year-old daughter.”
This allegation adds a layer of intimidation to an already sensitive case, raising concerns about the safety of the victim’s family. The police have not yet commented on the threat claim.
Legal Proceedings Under POCSO Act
The case was registered under the POCSO Act, which is designed to protect children from sexual assault, harassment, and pornography. The Act provides for stringent punishments, including life imprisonment, for offenders. The trial court’s decision to grant bail to Kumar had sparked outrage among child rights activists and the public.
The Delhi Police’s petition seeking bail cancellation argues that the accused could tamper with evidence or influence witnesses if released. The complainant’s petition echoes similar concerns, emphasizing the need for custody to ensure a fair trial.
Next Steps
The High Court will now deliver its order on June 29, which will determine whether Kumar remains on bail or is taken back into custody. The outcome will be closely watched as a test of the judiciary’s approach to cases involving sexual offenses against minors. Meanwhile, the victim’s family continues to seek justice, with the mother’s allegations of threats highlighting the challenges faced by survivors in such cases.
