The Supreme Court has yesterday granted interim protection from arrest to a doctor who was accused of raping a woman on the alleged promise of marriage.

A Vacation Bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal directed, “There shall be an interim protection of the petitioner from arrest in connection with FIR No.12 of 2023 lodged with Police Station Pakwara District Moradabad until the next date of hearing. The petitioner, however, shall not enter the district of Moradabad during this period and shall not indulge in any communication either directly or indirectly with the complainant.”

The Bench said that the petitioner i.e., the accused shall also join the investigation.

Advocates Mrinal Kanti Mandal and K.V. Jagdishvaran appeared on behalf of the petitioner while Advocates Purnima Jauhari and Brij Bhushan K. Jauhari appeared on behalf of the respondents.

In this case, a plea was preferred by the petitioner against the order passed by the Allahabad High Court whereby it denied him the anticipatory bail. He was pursuing a medical course at a university where the victim was a nursing teacher.

As per the victim, she came into contact with the petitioner and they both became friends. Thereafter, he promised to marry her and hence, established a physical relationship.

The Supreme Court in the above context observed, “Hence, formal service of notice to respondent no.2 shall stand dispensed with. Notice be issued to respondent no.1, returnable in four weeks.”

Accordingly, the Apex Court granted interim protection to the accused.

Cause Title- Dr. Abdul Qadir v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Anr.

Click here to read/download the Order