Bombay High Court Grants Interim Bail to Rape Accused to Facilitate Scheduled Marriage

The Bombay High Court granted interim bail to a man accused in a rape case, even though his anticipatory bail plea was still pending before the trial court.

Justice Ashwin Bhobe noted that the applicant’s marriage was scheduled for May 4 and that substantial arrangements had already been made by both families. Considering these circumstances, the Court granted temporary protection from arrest to facilitate the marriage ceremony.

The interim relief was granted for a limited duration while directing the accused to cooperate with the investigation.

The High Court clarified that the merits of the anticipatory bail application would still be decided independently by the lower court.

[Pratik Ramchandra Gogawale v. State of Maharashtra]