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The Delhi High Court on Friday denied bail to Seema Rani Khakha, the wife of suspended Delhi Government officer, Premoday Khakha, who allegedly raped a minor girl several times and impregnated her.
The court highlighted concerns about potential witness tampering and the erosion of trust between families. Seema Rani Khakha is accused of actively participating in the crime, including administering medication to terminate the victim's pregnancy. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, in dismissing the bail application of Seema Rani Khakha, stated that the case "strikes at the root of trust between two families" and emphasised that the possibility of influencing witnesses could not be ruled out at this stage. Earlier this year, in February, the Delhi High Court had denied bail to Premoday Khakha and his wife, Seema Rani Khakha, in a POCSO case, a decision upheld by the trial court. The Khakhas had argued for bail on the grounds that the Delhi Police had not yet filed a complete charge sheet, which they claimed entitled them to default bail. Justice Jyoti Singh, after hearing arguments from both the defence and the prosecution, dismissed the bail applications. The Delhi Police subsequently filed the charge sheet on October 11, 2023, and the Tis Hazari Court took cognisance of it on November 9, 2023. The Khakhas have remained in judicial custody since their arrest in August 2023. Premoday Khakha, formerly a Deputy Director in the Delhi government's Women and Child Development Department, is accused of sexually assaulting and impregnating a minor girl. His wife, Seema Rani Khakha, is alleged to have threatened the victim and facilitated an abortion. The case involves charges including rape, molestation, criminal intimidation, and offences under the POCSO Act. (ANI)
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