In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court handed down its decision on Thursday, maintaining the bail granted to Jitendra Narain, the former chief secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, amidst allegations of rape. Narain's bail had been previously approved by the Port Blair circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court on February 20.
The apex court's verdict emerged from the appeals lodged by both the state and the female complainant, who had challenged the high court's decision to grant bail to Narain. A two-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and A Amanullah declared, "We have dismissed all the petitions," thus concluding this stage of legal proceedings, according to PTI reports.
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However, the Supreme Court's judgment also emphasized the need for an expedited trial process. The trial court has been directed to prioritize the case, with an assurance of full cooperation from all concerned parties. The woman, who has accused Narain and others of raping her, alleged that she was lured to the former chief secretary's residence under the pretext of a government job offer.
This much-awaited ruling comes after the apex court reserved its verdict on August 1, following a series of hearings on the pleas opposing Narain's bail. The case pertains to a 21-year-old woman, who filed charges against Narain. The former chief secretary had been taken into custody on November 10 the previous year, subsequent to the registration of an FIR on October 1, 2022. The incident occurred during his tenure as the chairman and managing director of the Delhi Financial Corporation. Notably, his suspension by the government followed on October 17 the same year.
