‘Will You Marry Her?’ Supreme Court Asks Government Employee Accused Of Raping Minor, Grants Him Protection From Arrest

Supreme Court on March 1 asked a government employee seeking protection from arrest whether he would marry a woman who has accused him of rape. The top court was hearing the bail plea of Mohit Subhash Chavan, a technician with the Maharashtra State Electric Production Company. He has been accused of raping a schoolgirl & faces charges under the severe POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) law. "If you want to marry we can help you. If not, you lose your job and go to jail. You seduced the girl, raped her," Chief Justice of India SA Bobde told the petitioner's lawyer. The petitioner told the court, "Initially I wanted to marry her. But she refused. Now I cannot as I am already married.” The trial court had granted Chavan protection from arrest but the High Court had cancelled it. Supreme Court said he would not be arrested for four weeks & he could apply for regular bail.