In the 17-page order, the court referred to variations in the statement of the rape victim to the police and the judicial magistrate and pointed out that CCTV footage procured from the school did not place the accused at the scene on the day when the alleged incident is said to have taken place.
During the arguments last week, Adv Michael Nazareth, representing the accused, had submitted that the alleged accused has served an unblemished service record of 38 years in the school and did not have any criminal background.
Granting the anticipatory bail, President of the court Vandana Tendulkar observed, “The antecedents of the applicant in this case are clear. He has a spotless career of 38 years in the same school. A number of teachers from the said school, including the headmaster, have given statements and some have also filed affidavits in favour of the applicant. Even there is no incriminating material against the applicant in the CCTV footage collected by the respondent (police) from the school. Hence in the given circumstances… It appears that the presence of the applicant in custody is not at all justified.”
The court also observed there would not be direct interference with the academics of the victim by the accused.
The bail conditions include furnishing Rs 15,000 surety and a personal bond; reporting to the investigating officer for five days from Saturday; not to leave the State and country without the court’s permission; not to threaten the witnesses; and not to interfere with the victim or her family and to submit contact details to the court.
