The remaining sentence of Anand Dutta, one of the convicted in the rape and murder of 8-year-old girl Asifa has been suspended by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Dutta, a Police officer convicted for destruction of evidence in Kathua rape and murder case has been granted bail. He has already enjoyed over eleven months of parole.
Dutta, a Sub Inspector, was the Station House Officer of the Police Station when the Kathua rape incident took place. He was convicted to undergo five years of rigorous imprisonment.
A Bench of Justices Tejinder Singh Dhindsa and Vinod S Bhardwaj suspended the remaining sentence of Dutta and ordered his release on bail on furnishing of personal and security bonds.
Sub Inspector Dutta was convicted for offences punishable under sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender, read with Section 34 and 120-B of Ranbir Penal Code.
Dutta’s counsel contended before the Court that he was falsely implicated as allegations leveled by prosecution were not corroborated by any material particulars.
Advocate RS Cheema appearing for Jammu and Kashmir government has opposed the plea.
About Kathua Rape Case:
An eight-year-old girl from the Bakarwal tribal community went missing on January 10, 2018. After ten days, her body was found outside a temple in the Kathua district. It was found that while she was held captive in the temple, she was sedated and raped for four days after which the accused smashed her head with a rock that killed her.
In 2019, three accused in the case were awarded a life term by the Pathankot Court, whereas three other convicts, including Dutta, were handed a sentence of five years, along with a fine of five lakh rupees
