Ravindra Nagnath Bandgar v. State of Maharashtra
In the High Court of Bombay
Crl. B.A. 476/ 2019
Before Justice Prakash D. Naik
Decided on February 22, 2019

Relevancy of the case: Bail application in a case involving rape allegations, capturing of pictures, and blackmailing

Statutes and Provisions Involved

• The Information Technology Act, 2000 (Sections 66D, 67, 67A)
• The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Sections 328, 354D, 376(2)(n), 506)

Relevant Facts of the Case

• It is alleged that the applicant, who was the neighbour of the victim, had known her for the past eight years.
• On one occasion, the applicant had drugged some sweets and given them to the victim.
• After eating the sweets, the victim felt dizzy, and the applicant took her to his house.
• The applicant had sexual intercourse with the victim, without her consent and captured some pictures of her.
• The applicant threatened the victim with those photographs and coerced her into having physical relations with him many times.
• The victim conceived but aborted the pregnancy.

Prominent Arguments by the Advocates

• The respondent’s counsel submitted that there had been no love affair between the applicant and the victim. It was also argued that it could be seen from the applicant’s phone that the above-mentioned photographs had been taken by him.

Opinion of the Bench

• The Court believed that the relationship was consensual, looking at the allegations and their nature.

Final Decision

• Application allowed.
• Bail granted subject to certain conditions.