MUMBAI: In a detailed order granting anticipatory bail to Shiv Sena’s Thane district unit head Kedar Dighe in a rape and criminal intimidation case, a special court said that the only allegation made against him is that he threatened to kill the victim, while the main allegations of rape are against the co-accused.
The court said that prime facie only criminal intimidation charges are applicable against him. “In such circumstances, in my opinion, custodial interrogation of the applicant is unwarranted,” the court said.
Dighe’s friend has been booked for raping a 23-year-old sales executive in the case.
In his plea, Dighe said that on August 1, he was elected Thana district president of the Shiv Sena. That day he visited ‘Matoshree’ to take the blessings of the party leader and later went to Shivaji Park. It was alleged that at that time, he received a call from the office bearers of the labour union of a hotel and he was informed that a dispute had taken place between the co-accused and the victim. He said that when he visited the hotel, he came to know that the co-accused misbehaved with the victim.
“According to applicant (Dighe), the victim demanded money from the co-accused so as to settle the matter amicably, but when her offer is rejected, she filed report and made false allegations..,” his plea said.
Opposing his plea, the prosecution submitted that the investigation of te crime was at crucial stage.
The court said that Dighe was ready to furnish surety and to co-operate with further investigations. “As such, this is a fit case in which the applicant can be released on pre-arrest bail,” the court said.
