Rape case: Rajkot court reserves order on builder Ramani’s bail application

“The complainant says that the said rape was committed on December 26, 2015 but she filed a police complaint only on January 2, 2016. In the meantime, the woman had approached Ramani’s wife Rasila and demanded Rs20 lakh and threatened to expose the Ramani if she was not paid. Rasila had given an application to Women’s Police Station in this respect on December 12. This suggests that the case is of dubious nature and our applicant should be given anticipatory bail,” Shahi told The Indian Express after hearing of the application.

Shahi also raised questions on the character of the woman victim. “Aware of her character, the Women’s Police Station refused to take her complaint. After that she moved to Pradyuman Nagar police station and approached police inspector (Manish) Nakum. But Nakum has a grudge against my client. Ramani has moved a special criminal application beofre Gujarat High Court court alleging Nakum of corruption. Therefore, Pradyuman Nagar police took her complaint and later transferred to Women’s Police Station. This proves that this is an attempt by some people and police to frame Ramani in this case,” Shahi further said.

Ramani’s lawyers also argued that Rajkot City police did not have jurisdiction in the case as the flat where the woman claims to have been raped falls in the jurisdiction of Lodhika police station of Rajkot rural police. They also cited affidavit filed by a ma who claimed the woman who has accused the builder of raping her was his live-in partner some time ago.

However, additional public prosecutor (APP) Mukesh Desai and victim’s lawyer Samir Chhaya objected the bail plea saying there was prima facie evidence that Ramani had sexually assaulted the 20-year-old woman after giving her sedatives.

“We drew attention of the court that Ramani is facing a number of criminal cases. In fact, Gujarat High Court has refused him anticipatory bail plea in an abetment of suicide case recently and he has been declared an absconder. Therefore, he should not be given protection against police.

Woman’s lowyer also submitted that “Ramani’s” men had threatened him after he took up case of the victim and that separate complaint had been filed in this regard. After hearing arguments of both the parties, the court reserved its order on the application till Friday, Desai further said.