New Delhi: The Karnataka High Court has orally observed that people may comply with the law only if stringent punishments, such as chopping off hands or legs, are imposed, while refusing bail to a 23-year-old engineering student accused in a rape case.
Justice R. Nataraj made the remarks during the hearing of a bail plea filed by the accused, who has been in judicial custody since April 5.
“Law has lost its teeth because we don’t deal with offenders firmly. That is why committing an offence has become so easy unlike in the Middle East. If you chop leg or hand, perhaps only then people will realise to comply with law. Because we have a democracy, everybody takes it for granted,” the judge orally observed, according to reports.
The court declined to grant bail to the accused, identified as Gopi Reddy Karthik Reddy, observing that offenders are not being dealt with firmly enough under the existing legal system.
During the hearing, Justice Nataraj also remarked, “If you eat salt, you got to drink water. Let him stay another four-five days. Let him get used to the prison. Who knows, if you are punished, you may have to go back.”
According to the prosecution, the complainant and the accused were classmates at the Manipal Institute of Technology. The woman alleged that the accused professed his love for her in July 2023 and that after she distanced herself from him, he persuaded her on September 12, 2023, to accompany him to his apartment under the pretext of discussing their relationship.
She alleged that once there, he sexually assaulted her against her will.
Counsel for the accused argued that no offence had been committed and contended that the student’s continued detention for nearly two months would adversely affect his academic and professional future.
The High Court refused to grant immediate relief and posted the matter for further consideration at a later date.
