New Delhi, 19 October (H.S.): The Patiala House Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of a Delhi University professor accused of raping a former student and threatening to circulate her objectionable videos. Additional Sessions Judge Gomti Manocha passed the order rejecting the professor’s application for pre-arrest bail.

The professor has been accused of raping his former student and threatening to make her objectionable videos public. The court observed that WhatsApp conversations between the two indicated that the matter was not merely about a past consensual relationship, but also involved allegations of coercion and intimidation.

The court further observed that granting anticipatory bail to the accused could pose a significant risk of him influencing or threatening the complainant. It also expressed concern over the possibility of electronic evidence being tampered with and the complainant being subjected to further threats or pressure.

While hearing the professor’s anticipatory bail plea, the court directed that the investigation be entrusted to a senior police officer to ensure an impartial probe and the preservation of electronic evidence. The police were also asked to investigate whether the accused or his associates were pressuring the complainant to refrain from pursuing the case.

The professor is accused of sexually exploiting the woman on multiple occasions on the pretext of marrying her. According to the complainant’s allegations, the accused administered an intoxicating substance to her and recorded objectionable videos without her consent. She further alleged that he threatened to circulate the videos if she refused to comply with his demands.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar