India News

Punjab & Haryana HC sets 3 gang-rape convicts free on bail, slams the victim instead

Published

9 years ago

September 23, 2017

Punjab & Haryana HC sets 3 gang-rape convicts free on bail, slams the victim instead

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The High Court felt “it would be a travesty of justice if they (the culprits) are not given a chance to redeem themselves”

Legal versions of what constitutes rape can vary wildly within the judicial system of India. Especially, the absence of “gut wrenching violence that normally precede or accompany such incidents” is good enough for perpetrators of the crime to get away with a minor rap on the wrists, while bringing to the victim of rape more shame, supposedly for their “promiscuous attitude and voyeuristic mind”.

These quotes aren’t social or editorial inputs. Those were the actual words used by a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, comprising Justices Mahesh Grover and Raj Shekhar Attri, who in a recent verdict set three rapists, whose guilt had been proven beyond doubt, free to leave on bail.

That was not where the division bench stopped. It observed in its judgement that the heinous gang-rape culprits – three former law students – actually deserved a second chance. It observed: “It would be a travesty of justice if they are not given a chance to redeem themselves.”

That second chance, unfortunately, was not available to the victims, reports The Free Press Journal, quoting NDTV.

After hearing all arguments, judges Grover and Attri came to the strange conclusion that the victim’s account was questionable because of her supposed “promiscuous attitude and voyeuristic mind”. The judges suspended the sentence of the three youngsters and ordered them to pay Rs 10 lakh to the woman as compensation.

In 2015, the woman, a management student of the OP Jindal Global University in Sonepat, brought charges of rape against the three law students. She had complained that they had raped her several times for more than a year, while one of them had been blackmailing her using her nude photos. They had, thus, been able to force her to have sex with him and his two friends had joined in, resulting in a textbook case of gang-rape.

The sensible trial court had gone through the details of the case and found all three guilty. The verdict of the trial court judge was 20 years in prison on account of gang-rape, as well as for other criminal offences. The third man was sentenced to seven years in prison, a standard for rape.

That was when the three moved the high court, demanding a suspension of their sentences and the high court, strangely, agreed that a balance could well be struck between retribution and the sentences. The first logic used was that these were young men, with a future. If there was any comment from the bench about the future of the young woman, the victim of this heinous crime, it has not been made available to the general public.

That was when the court, shockingly commented: “It would be a travesty of justice if they (the men) are not given a chance to redeem themselves.”

Such a pronouncement deserved an explanation and that too was shocking. The outstanding phrases within the judgement read as follows: “…the narrative does not throw up gut wrenching violence that normally precede or accompany such incidents”. This, obviously, shows an existing predisposition of the judges towards a scenario of rape.

The other set of comments, through which the unfortunate woman has become a victim twice over, reads as follows: “… the entire crass sequence actually is reflective of a degenerative mind set of the youth breeding denigrating relationships mired in drugs, alcohol, casual sexual escapades and a promiscuous and voyeuristic world”.

The thin silver lining was in the court’s acceptance that the victim was threatened into submission and blackmail. Yet, while realising the extent and disgusting nature of the crime, the bench said that, after carefully examining her statement, it felt that all that represented “alternate conclusion of misadventure stemming from a promiscuous attitude and voyeuristic mind”. The construction of this part of the sentence is convoluted, but brings little joy to the victim of a gang-rape.

Thus came the bail order, in which the court observed, referring to the young generation that it is: “…unable to comprehend the worth of a relationship based on respect and understanding”.

So what will the rapists do as free, unencumbered young men? The court’s condition was that the three must undergo counselling at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for “correcting their behavioural aberrations” and to free them of their “voyeuristic tendencies”.

Of course, the court admits that it was the duty of the parents of the rapists to make them see better things and act better. After all, they are young, with impressionable and immature minds, one guesses. Hence the court asked the Director AIIMS to submit a report. The bench also added that it will be the “duty of the parents” of the convicts to apprise the court on the progress. One can feel sorry for the parents, surely.

-India Legal Bureau

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Related Topics:AIIMS High Court Rape Sonepat

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Nandigram bypoll: Congress candidate arrested hours after Mamata’s support

Congress’s Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan has been arrested in connection with an old alleged murder case, hours after Mamata Banerjee announced support for his candidature.

Published

6 hours ago

September 18, 2026

APNLive Desk

Congress candidate Milan Pradhan has been arrested in West Bengal in connection with an old murder case, hours after Mamata Banerjee announced that her faction would support his candidature in the October 6 Nandigram Assembly bypoll.

The arrest came on Friday, September 18, after Mamata Banerjee announced at a press conference at her Kalighat residence that her faction would back the Congress candidate in Nandigram.

Why was Milan Pradhan arrested?

According to the available report, Milan Pradhan was arrested in connection with an old alleged murder case. The report does not provide further details about the case, including the alleged incident, the sections invoked or the circumstances of the arrest.

The arrest therefore comes at a significant point in the Nandigram bypoll, with Pradhan having emerged as the Congress candidate after a series of political developments in the constituency.

Why did Mamata Banerjee support the Congress candidate?

Mamata Banerjee announced support for the Congress candidate after Sanchita Pradhan Dey, who had been fielded by her faction, withdrew from the Nandigram contest.

According to the report, Pradhan Dey withdrew her candidature after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Mamata subsequently announced that her faction would support the Congress candidate in the October 6 Nandigram Assembly bypoll.

The development placed Milan Pradhan at the centre of the latest political developments surrounding the Nandigram election.

Nandigram bypoll scheduled for October 6

The Nandigram Assembly bypoll is scheduled for October 6. The constituency has drawn attention ahead of the election following changes involving candidates and the political support announced by Mamata Banerjee’s faction.

With Milan Pradhan’s arrest now reported, the Congress candidate’s legal case is likely to become another important development in the run-up to the bypoll.

India News

Mamata Banerjee’s Nandigram candidate withdraws from bypoll

Sanchita Pradhan Dey withdrew from the Nandigram bypoll after meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, with Mamata Banerjee later announcing support for Congress.

Published

7 hours ago

September 18, 2026

APNLive Desk

Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the candidate fielded by Mamata Banerjee’s faction of the Trinamool Congress for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, has withdrawn from the contest.

The development came a day after the Election Commission announced that the rival Trinamool factions would not be allowed to use the party’s existing name and symbol for the upcoming bypolls. The poll panel later allotted new names and symbols to the two factions.

Dey had been announced as the Mamata faction’s Nandigram candidate on Sunday. She is a teacher in Nandigram who had lost her job following the cancellation of the appointments of 26,000 teachers in connection with an alleged recruitment scam.

Sanchita Pradhan Dey met Suvendu Adhikari

According to sources, Dey met West Bengal Chief Minister and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday. A photograph of the meeting also emerged.

Her withdrawal was announced on Friday afternoon as Mamata Banerjee was addressing a press conference over the Election Commission’s decision concerning the Trinamool factions.

With Dey no longer in the contest, Banerjee announced that her faction would support the Congress candidate in the Nandigram bypoll.

Banerjee said the decision had been taken within her party and that she had spoken with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while noting that the Congress had not been informed about the decision at that point.

New names and symbols for Trinamool factions

The Election Commission has allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol to the faction led by Mamata Banerjee.

The rival faction led by Arup Roy has been allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.

The Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls are scheduled for October 6, with counting set for October 9.

India News

BJP convoy attacked in Punjab ahead of anti-drug campaign launch

BJP leader and former Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu alleged that his convoy was attacked near the Batala-Gurdaspur highway in Punjab while he was travelling to Pathankot for a BJP anti-drug event.

Published

7 hours ago

September 18, 2026

APNLive Desk

BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has alleged that his convoy was attacked in Punjab while he was travelling towards Pathankot to attend a party event.

According to Bittu, the incident took place near the Batala-Gurdaspur highway, where a group of people allegedly threw eggs, tomatoes and other objects at his convoy.

The incident occurred as Bittu was travelling to Pathankot for an anti-drug campaign being launched by BJP president Nitin Nabin.

What happened to Ravneet Bittu’s convoy?

Bittu’s convoy, comprising around eight to nine vehicles, came under attack near the Batala-Gurdaspur highway, according to his account.

He alleged that protesters threw eggs, tomatoes and other objects at the vehicles. Bittu further claimed that the windows of two escort vehicles were broken and that a jammer vehicle was also damaged.

The protesters also reportedly blocked the road, making it difficult for the convoy to continue towards Pathankot.

The incident took place near an area where the ‘Babe da viyah’ festival was being celebrated.

Three protesters reportedly caught

Bittu’s office said his security team caught three people who were allegedly involved in the incident.

His office further alleged that the three were linked to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). However, the allegation was denied by the AAP.

AAP leader Joban Randhawa said the party’s workers were protesting peacefully and alleged that Bittu’s supporters had targeted them.

The competing claims have not been independently established in the report.

What did Ravneet Singh Bittu say?

Bittu said he had informed the Union Home Ministry about the incident. He also held Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the state’s Director General of Police responsible for his safety in the event of any harm to him or people associated with him.

His office called for an investigation into the incident and raised concerns about the safety of political leaders and workers.

Why was Bittu travelling to Pathankot?

Ravneet Singh Bittu was travelling to Pathankot to attend the BJP’s anti-drug campaign event. BJP president Nitin Nabin was scheduled to launch the campaign in Pathankot.

The incident occurred amid preparations for the BJP’s political activities in Punjab ahead of the state’s next Assembly election.

Who is Ravneet Singh Bittu?

Ravneet Singh Bittu is a BJP leader and former Union minister. He served as Minister of State for Railways and Minister of State for Food Processing Industries before resigning from the Union Council of Ministers in July 2026.

His tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP had ended in June 2026.