Anticipatory bail to DSP accused in Jamshedpur Sahara City Rape Case

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Mar 13: In a significant development, the Jharkhand High Court, presided over by Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, granted anticipatory bail to then Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ajay Kerketta, an accused in the Mango Sahara City rape case. The hearing for Kerketta’s anticipatory bail took place in the High Court on Monday.

The case dates back to January 18, 2019, when the mother of a minor lodged an FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Mango police station, implicating Inderpal Singh, Shiv Kumar Mahato, Shrikant Mahato, and others. The victim alleged that despite providing a statement, the police failed to include influential individuals as accused, prompting the court to intervene.

Subsequently, the police arrested several individuals, including Guddu Gupta, then police station in-charge Imdad Ansari, and DSP Ajay Kerketta, among others, in connection with the rape case. The accused were charged under relevant sections of the law.

In 2022, the Jamshedpur Court sentenced three of the culprits, namely Inderpal Saini, Shivkumar Mahato, and Shrikant Mahato, to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment under the 376D Act and the POCSO Act, along with a fine of Rs 20,000 each. Notably, the trial against the remaining 22 accused in the case is ongoing.