Mumbai: 24-year-old rape accused gets interim relief

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Even as a 21-year-old woman took to social media to talk about being sexually assaulted by a man she went out with, the Bombay High Court on Thursday heard his anticipatory bail application and granted him interim relief till February 6.

According to police officials, the victim first approached the Malad police on January 16 to register a complaint against her alleged abuser, who she identified as Heetik Shah. The case was transferred to the Worli police station on January 18.

On Thursday, the victim narrated her alleged ordeal in an Instagram post, saying that she had gone out with Shah, who she met on Instagram, on January 14. After a few drinks, Shah allegedly insisted that she drink more and then took her to a friend's place in Worli, where he allegedly assaulted and forced himself on her.

"The friend at whose house the offence is alleged to have been committed claims that he had no idea about it, but we are verifying his claims," said a police officer.

Senior officials told mid-day that he is a student and the son of a diamond merchant staying in Walkeshwar. "He has not been at home since the FIR was registered and his phone, too, had been switched off. He applied for anticipatory bail and the HC has granted him interim relief till February 4," said an officer.

Senior police inspector Ravindra Katkar, Worli police station confirmed that the FIR had been registered under sections 376 (punishment for rape) and 323 (Voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code, and that investigations against Shah were underway.

Meanwhile, in her Instagram post, the victim shared a screenshot, allegedly of a message that Shah sent her after the incident. "Hi I'm genuinely sorry for whatever happened tonight didn't mean to do what happened, the situation got heated up and escalated and I'm really very sorry, I hope we can get over this and leave this behind us, I'm again very apologetic and sorry (sic)," the message reads.