Prayagraj: In a high-profile case, the Allahabad High Court has granted bail to Javed Alam, a man accused of abducting and raping a minor Hindu girl.
During the hearing, Justice Sameer Jain emphasized the girl’s statement in which she affirmed she was over 17 years old at the time of the First Information Report (FIR). The girl also confirmed that she willingly left with Alam and married him of her own accord.
The girl’s legal counsel further supported Alam’s bail plea, informing the court that she had no objections to his release.
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The case originated from an incident during a train journey when the couple had an argument. Following this, a Bajrang Dal member filed a police complaint against Alam, accusing him of kidnapping the girl, a 10th-grade student, and pressuring her to convert to Islam.
The charges filed against Alam included sections from the Indian Penal Code (IPC):
- Section 363: Kidnapping
- Section 366: Abduction to compel marriage
- Section 506: Criminal intimidation
- Section 323: Voluntarily causing hurt
- Section 376: Rape
In addition, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, were invoked.
The court’s decision highlights the importance of analyzing testimonies and evidence thoroughly, especially in cases involving sensitive allegations. By granting bail, the court considered the circumstances and the girl’s voluntary statement in its deliberation.