Court rejects bail plea of Rajkot builder accused of raping a woman

However, Ramani has gone underground since he was booked for the alleged rape. Police have raided his residence in the city but he has remained out of their reach till date. Meanwhile, he moved an application before the district and sessions court through his advocates Sanjay Pandit and Lalit Shahi on January 8, seeking anticipatory bail in the case.

The application had come for hearing in the court of additional sessions judge VJ Kalotara for the first time on Monday. But the victim’s advocate Samir Chhaya sought adjournment of the hearing, pleading the victim would like to file an affidavit to oppose the bail application. The court granted the adjournment plea and accordingly, the victim filed an affidavit stating Ramani should not be given protection against arrest as there was a threat to her life from the builder.

“Since polling for election to Rajkot Bar Association was held on Tuesday, advocates could not take up routine court work. Therefore, the court deferred hearing on the anticipatory bail application for a day. Now the matter will be heard on Wednesday,” additional public prosecutor (APP) Mukesh Desai told The Indian Express.

City police have provided protection to the victim after she expressed apprehension that Ramani might try to harm her. The builder has subsequently been booked for criminal intimidation after “his men” allegedly threatened the victim and her advocate.

Hansaba Solanki, police sub-inspector of Women’s Police Station who is investigating the case has already filed her affidavit to oppose Ramani’s bail plea. “Through the affidavit, we have submitted that Ramani is a dangerous person and should not remain free. Beside the rape case, he is facing more than a dozen criminal cases. On top of all this, medical reports have confirmed that woman was indeed raped and therefore he should not be given protection against arrest,” Desai further said.

The victim, police say, is a native of Devbhoomi Dwarka district and had come in contact with Ramani through a common friend named Payal Butani.