SC notes 'devastating impact', rejects bail of Pocso accused

OBSERVING that the offences in the present case were heinous and grave, involving repeated penetrative sexual assault on a minor under armed intimidation, accompanied by recording of the act for the purpose of blackmail, the Supreme Court on Friday cancelled the bail granted by the Allahabad High Court to the accused.

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY @New Delhi

“Such conduct has a devastating impact on the life of the victim and shakes the collective conscience of society. The safety of the victim and the need to preserve the purity of the trial process assume paramount importance,” said a two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahdevan.