In jail since July 2007 on charges of rape, a 27-year-old manager of the trendy Noida nightclub ‘Elevate’ is battling for bail at the Delhi High Court.
The accused, Vikram (name changed), has been charged by a 19-year-old of raping her. The incident, says her complaint sent to Sarojini Nagar police through a speed post, occurred at her house in the Capital on January 9, 2007.
Vikram, on the contrary, claims the girl had taken on an “obsessive liking” for him, and framed him in the rape case to “not lose” him.
According to the bail petition, the two first met at Elevate in November 2006 — she worked with an events management company — and their “friendship” blossomed soon. They exchanged telephone numbers and learnt that they both came from the same place in Uttarakhand, the bail petition says.
The girl, the petition states, became a regular visitor to Elevate.
“Things started turning awry for my client when the 19-year-old started increasing the frequency of her calls and supplementing it with demands for marriage,” Vikram’s counsel Mamta Chandra submitted in court. “At one point he received at least 50 calls a day from the girl.”
Chandra said Vikram complained to Noida police on June 16, 2007 about getting calls from the girl. She allegedly served him an ultimatum: either they get married, or she would commit suicide.
On June 21, she sent a speed post to Sarojini Nagar Police Station alleging Vikram had raped her earlier that year — on January 9.
She claimed Vikram was at her house from 6.30 pm to 9 pm, and raped her after serving her a cool drink laced with sedatives.
The police, Vikram’s counsel said, lodged an “FIR under Section 376 IPC (rape) against Vikram on July 19 and arrested him the next day”. Chandra submitted that the case is pending before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Mamta Sehgal.
“Physical examination of the girl — for signs of rape — was done almost six months after the alleged incident,” Chandra told the court. “The medico-legal certificate of physical examination of her private parts does not show any injury marks.”
Justice H R Malhotra, who is hearing the case, has posted it for final orders.
Nov 2006: The two meet at Elevate, Noida
Jan 9, 2007: Girl claims she is raped, at her house
June 16: Man complains to police
June 21: Girl sends police complaint through speed post
July 19: Sarojini Nagar police register FIR of rape
July 20: The accused arrested
Case status: HC has posted case for final orders