In Brief
A 15-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by Vivek, Deepak, and Netram at a hotel in Rajasthan in February 2021. The accused threatened to circulate videos and harm her family; she reported the crime over a year later. The trial court took cognizance against Deepak. The High Court granted bail, citing the delay. The Supreme Court reversed this order, holding that delay is not invariably fatal when explained by threats. The Court emphasized that serious crimes against minors require careful bail scrutiny, considering victim testimony, witness-tampering risks, and the accused's influential status. Bail was cancelled and the accused ordered to surrender.
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