Supreme Court sets aside interim bail granted to Govt Counsel accused of Rape, says Allahabad HC acted in the teeth of its order

The Supreme Court today set aside the interim bail granted by the Allahabad High Court to a government counsel accused of rape, noting that the High Court acted against its order.

. A three-judge Bench of Justices Rohinton Nariman, Navin Sinha and Indira Banerjee said that the case of rape against the government counsel was a serious one, and needs to be investigated properly.

. On August 5, the Supreme Court had stayed an order of the High Court which had granted anticipatory bail to former Additional Standing Counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government Shailendra Singh Chauhan, who has been accused of rape by a junior lawyer. Subsequently by an order dated September 3, the High Court granted interim bail to the lawyer, much to the surprise of the Apex Court.

. The Supreme Court noted that the High Court granted interim bail on the grounds that Chauhan had a long-standing reputation of 29 years and had no criminal antecedents. However, the Apex Court remarked that this order in the teeth of its August 5 order, and that the case was a grave one that needed to be investigated properly.

. "We are surprised that the High Court should act in the teeth of our order dated 05.08.2020. This is a very serious case which must be investigated properly so that the truth ultimately will come out." Supreme Court .Government Counsel accused of raping junior granted interim bail by Allahabad High Court. Thus, the Court set aside the interim bail granted by the High Court.

. Earlier this year, the High Court granted interim protection from arrest to Chauhan while hearing his plea seeking to quash the FIR registered against him. After the survivor moved the Supreme Court against the decision, this order was stayed.

. In addition to this, the survivor had sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged offence. The Supreme Court had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to respond to the plea.

.Supreme Court seeks UP government's response on plea for CBI probe against government Counsel accused of rape. Chauhan has been accused of causing hurt by means of poison for the commission of an offence, sexual harassment, and rape under Sections 328, 354A, and 376 of the Indian Penal Code.

. Read Order:

Supreme Court sets aside interim bail granted to Govt Counsel accused of Rape, says Allahabad HC acted in the teeth of its order

Shruti Mahajan

Related Stories