victim moves SC over pre-arrest bail to Cong MLA accused of rape
New Delhi, March 8 -- The victim in the alleged rape case against Congress legislator Rahul Mamkootathil has moved the Supreme Court challenging the anticipatory bail granted to him. She stated that the allegation is not a "political afterthought" and claimed that the accused has a pattern of targeting women in distress, including those in troubled marriages or separated from their spouses.
The woman, who has masked her identity as "X" in her petition filed on Friday, challenged the Kerala high court's February 12 order, granting Mamkootathil pre-arrest bail.
She contended that the court made adverse remarks about her complaint by terming the alleged sexual act "consensual" and effectively conducting a "mini trial" at the bail stage, which she argued could prejudice the trial against the legislator.
"The high court erred in appreciating that no person has the right to sexually assault the victim simply because she voluntarily came to his room. Only because the victim knew the accused or was in cordial relations with him will not make her responsible for the sexual assault," the petition said.
The matter will be taken up by the top court next week....
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