HC grants 1-yr bail to rape convict

The High Court yesterday granted one-year conditional bail to a rape convict after eight years of his imprisonment as he married the victim in line with the court's directive.

The verdict read that the bail shall stand cancelled if convict Dilip Khalko denies the victim as wife during their conjugal and family life in this one year, said Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi.

Dilip married the victim at the jail gate in Rajshahi following the court's directives.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman came up with the order after examining documents sent by the Rajshahi jail authorities that confirmed Dilip married the victim on December 5, the deputy attorney general said.

On October 22, after hearing a bail petition of Dilip, the HC bench issued a condition that he would be granted bail in the case if he married the victim.

The bench also asked the Rajshahi jail authorities to arrange the marriage at jail gate if the convict agrees to marry the victim.

The court also asked the jail authorities to submit a report after complying the order within a month of the marriage, the deputy attorney general added.

Dilip was previously sentenced with a life imprisonment.

According to the case statement, Dilip and the victim were cousins and had engaged in a love affair. The victim became pregnant in 2011 when her age was 14. Dilip then refused to marry her.

On October 25, 2011, the victim filed a rape case with Godagari Police Station accusing Dilip.

On June 12 the following year, Rajshahi Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Several months ago this year, the convict filed a petition with the HC through a lawyer seeking bail.

In the petition, he said he would marry the victim. His lawyer also submitted a document from the victim to the court stating that she would have no objection if Dilip was granted bail following their marriage.