HC irked by bail to accused in sexual abuse case

The Bombay high court on Monday expressed displeasure over granting of bail to five employees of a shelter home in Nashik district in a case involving alleged sexual abuse of minor inmates. The HC told lower courts should take a serious view of such cases.

The Bombay high court on Monday expressed displeasure over granting of bail to five employees of a shelter home in Nashik district in a case involving alleged sexual abuse of minor inmates. The HC told lower courts should take a serious view of such cases.

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The division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice MS Sanklecha was hearing a suo moto public interest litigation based on news reports of the case.

Advocate general Darius Khambata on Monday informed the court that an FIR had been registered against five employees on March 25 and they were arrested. However, a magistrate’s court granted them bail on April 19.

“Our magistrates should take a serious view in such cases. We have earlier directed expedition of trials in such cases,” said the visibly upset chief justice. The bench also pulled up the state government for not approaching a higher court seeking cancellation of bail of the accused.

Khambata informed the bench that all the inmates of the shelter home had been shifted to another protective home and a show-cause notice had been issued to the trustees of the tainted institution asking why its licences should not be revoked.

“Fifty-nine out of 62 inmates have been shifted to another shelter home in Pune. The remaining three are in their guardians’ custody,” said the advocate general.

The court has now sought a copy of the magistrate’s order granting bail to the five accused and posted the

PIL for further hearing on Tuesday.