Mumbai: A sessions court on Thursday granted bail to Padmakar Nandekar, general secretary of the Cuffe Parade Residents’ Association, who has been accused of rape in April a 19-year-old Brazilian exchange student during her eight-month stay in the city.
Nandekar, who was arrested on May 21, was granted bail on payment of Rs 25,000 on the strict order that he wouldn’t contact witnesses, tamper with alleged evidence or leave the country without the court’s permission. Special Judge MA Baraliya also directed him to appear before the police station once a month.
Nandekar’s lawyers Anjali Patil and Arun Rajput had argued that since the police had completed investigation in the case a charge sheet was earlier this month— they no longer need to keep him in custody. They also said that Section 376(2)(F) of the IPC (rape while under someone’s guardianship), under which Nandekar has been charged, is not applicable in this case as at the time of the alleged rape, the victim had completed her six-month stay with Nandekar’s family and had moved on to the next host’s residence.
At the hearing of the bail plea, Patil said none of the staff members from the hotel supported the woman’s claim about the manner in which she walked out of the hotel. Nandekar’s lawyers also cited an email written by a member of the host family to Nanadekar’s wife, in which she called the victim a liar.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and like us on Facebook for the latest updates and interesting stories
