'Parties Were Well Acquainted': MP High Court Grants Bail To Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Municipal Chairperson Using Obscene Videos

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted bail to a man accused of raping, extorting, and criminally intimidating an elected Chairperson of the Municipality using obscene videos and photos, observing that the parties were well acquainted with each other. The bench of Justice Devnarayan Mishra observed,"Considering the facts and circumstances brought on record and on going through the material placed by learned counsel for the applicant, it is clear that the parties were well acquainted with each other. Thus, without commenting anything on the merits of the case, this application is allowed". The applicant had filed a third bail application in an FIR registered for offences of rape (Section 64(1)), extortion by installing fear of death or grievous hurt (Section 308(5)), obscene acts and songs in public (Section 296) and criminal intimidation (Section 351(3)). He had been in custody since January 13, 2025. The counsel for the applicant submitted that the complainant, the alleged victim, was a well-educated woman and an elected chairperson of a Municipality. It was also submitted that the applicant and the woman were in a love affair. Counsel for the applicant submitted that the complainant's husband had filed a divorce petition under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act for the dissolution of the marriage before the Family Court in November 2024, accusing his wife of adultery with the applicant. However, the divorce proceedings were dismissed for non-prosecution in August 2025. Additionally, the counsel for the applicant submitted that the woman's husband had forced her to lodge an FIR against him and made allegations of extortion. He further submitted that he was previously acquitted in a separate rape case, where the Trial Court found that the relationship was consensual. Counsel for the state contended that the obscene photos and videos of the woman were recovered from the mobile phone of the applicant. Using such content, the applicant sexually assaulted the woman, who did not file any complaint or inform anyone due to social pressure. The state also submitted that the applicant had a criminal history as he had earlier assaulted a public servant and was convicted for that offence. The bench, considering the evidence brought on record, observed that the parties were well acquainted with each other and thus, granted bail to the applicant subject to certain conditions. Case Title: APS v State [MCRC-44293-2025]Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (MP) 237For Applicant: Advocate Alok VagrechaFor State: Government Advocate C.K. MishraFor Complainant: Advocate Pushpendra Kumar DubeyClick here to read/download the Order

'Parties Were Well Acquainted': MP High Court Grants Bail To Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Municipal Chairperson Using Obscene Videos

Jayanti Pahwa

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