A Congress leader, Srinivas, has been denied transit bail by the Additional City Civil and Sessions Court in a harassment and gender discrimination case filed against him by Angkita Dutta, a youth Congress leader from Assam. Srinivas had sought the transit bail to approach the jurisdictional court for bail. However, the court rejected his plea after hearing arguments from both sides.
Dutta’s senior counsel, Phaneendra, argued that Srinivas was influential and might destroy the evidence if granted bail. He also stated that Srinivas was accused of serious offences and, therefore, custodial interrogation was necessary. Srinivas’s counsel, senior advocate Shashikiran Shetty, argued that the complainant had made the allegation out of political ill-will and was hand-in-glove with his political rivals. He also claimed that the Assam police was in Karnataka to arrest Srinivas in a complaint filed long after the alleged incident.
Dutta had alleged that Srinivas had harassed her for over six months and had threatened her not to bring it to the notice of Congress leaders. She had filed the complaint on April 19, 2023, in a police station in Kamrup, Assam. Srinivas has been booked under various Sections of IPC 294, 342, 352, 354, 354(A)(iv), 506 and 509, and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. He allegedly assaulted her on February 25 in a hotel in Chhattisgarh and harassed her in Guwahati earlier.
The denial of transit bail means that Srinivas will have to approach the jurisdictional court for bail. This decision comes at a time when the country is witnessing a rise in gender-based violence and harassment cases. The legal system needs to ensure that the accused are held accountable for their actions and that the victims receive justice.
In conclusion, the court’s decision to deny Srinivas transit bail shows that the judiciary is committed to ensuring that justice is served. The accused should face a fair trial and be held accountable for their actions. It is essential to address the issue of gender-based violence and harassment to create a safer environment for all individuals.