The Bombay High Court on Saturday granted pre-arrest bail to a 69-year-old businessman-turned-spiritual preacher from Kamothe, Panvel, who is accused of raping a woman over the past 28 years. The victim who said she was a minor at the time of the incident, registered her complaint in the Revdanda police station in Alibaug over a month ago, almost 28 years after getting acquainted with the accused. The court, before granting bail, made serious observations on the prosecution`s case in its order.

The prosecution`s case

In its order, the court observed that the case of the prosecution is that the complainant left her home in 1994, along with gold ornaments worth 12 tolas and Rs3.50 lakh in cash, after the death of her parents at the age of 12 years. It is further claimed by the woman that she thereafter came in contact with the accused and handed him the cash and gold ornaments, which he used for his own benefit besides allegedly sexually exploiting her.