VADODARA, Dec 29: Shinor police sub-inspector Praveen H Chaudhary, chief accused in the rape and torture of a tribal woman, was granted interim bail till December 31 on Tuesday.The hearing in the anticipatory bail plea filed by the absconding PSI through his counsel had been postponed three times in the past before being fixed for today.
Chaudhary presented himself before Additional District Judge Y H Sikh as soon as he resumed at 11.30 am on Tuesday. The court immediately remanded the PSI -- who's been giving the police the slip for the past month -- to judicial custody.
Though the anticipatory bail application was pending before the court, PSI's counsel I U Patel filed a fresh petition, seeking regular bail for the accused on the grounds that since he had surrendered and been sent to jail, he could be considered for regular bail.
While turning down the police's application for police remand of the accused, the judge, after hearing the arguments of the defence counsel, finally granted Chaudhary interim bail on a security of Rs 10,000 and on the condition that he present himself before the court at 11.30 everyday till December 31, when the regular bail plea will be heard by the court.
Meanwhile, the victim is still undergoing treatment in hospital.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.