MLA refused bail in rape case

AUGUST 30: The Bombay High Court has refused bail to sitting member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Mohammed Rafi alias Ravikanth ...

AUGUST 30: The Bombay High Court has refused bail to sitting member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Mohammed Rafi alias Ravikanth Shankarppa Patil, who has been charged with rape and continued sexual molestation of a young girl. Justice Vishnu Sahai has observed that a person who has forcibly married and raped a girl should 8220;cool his heels in the jail8221;.

The judge has said that legislators, who are the people8217;s representatives, are expected to conform to high standards of behaviour and not be carried away by lust. 8220;The conduct of the applicant for bail is reprehensible. People like him should remain in jail until they curb their sexual instincts,8221; the judge remarked. He has added that Patil8217;s release on bail might endanger the life of the victim and her family. The accused also might tamper with the prosecution evidence, he said.

However, Justice Sahay has made it clear that denial of bail will not affect the trial, since the merits of the case will be decided by the lower court.

Additional sessions judge, Solapur, had earlier refused bail to Rafi. Justice Sahay has expressed concern over the criminal background of the legislator, who has 39 offences registered against him at various police stations in Solapur district. Of these, 17 are pending in the criminal courts. The high court has also observed that Rafi has blatantly misused his political position by continuing to commit sexual offences.

The remark against Rafi gains significance in the context of the ongoing election campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections. Moreover, the denial of bail also sends a warning signal to constestants with criminal backgrounds.

As per Justice Sahay8217;s order, Rafi had loaned the father of the victim around Rs 12 lakh to build a house. Rafi used to visit their house in Solapur since 1996. However, relations grew strained when Rafi expressed his desire to marry the victim. As he was denied entry to the house, he asked for his money back.

In April 1999, Rafi visited the girl8217;s house when she was alone with her mother and threatened to take his money back. Armed with knives and other weapons, he even tried to kidnap the girl. Later in May, when the girl was at her aunt8217;s house, Rafi forcibly took her to Mumbai and arranged to get them registered as husband and wife. Later, he took her to Khandala and after returning to Solapur repeatedly allegedly raped her. The father of the girl registered a First Information Report against Rafi with the Bijapur Naka police on June 5, 1999.