Bombay High Court Refuses Transit Pre-Arrest Bail To ET Now Anchor In Rape Case

A single bench of Justice PD Naik heard the transit pre-arrest application on March 1 and rejected it the same day. "There is no dispute about powers to grant transit anticipatory bail. The applicant is charged under Section 376 of IPC. The applicant may approach the appropriate court. I am not inclined to grant such relief in this case," Justice Naik noted in his order which was made available, on Monday.

The court, however, clarified that it was not rejecting the application on merits.

Hiremath, 28, is the anchor of the daily show "Markets with ET Now". He was booked under sections 376 (punishment of offence of rape), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC, in the FIR registered at Chanakyapuri police station.

In her complaint and statement before a magistrate the young woman has alleged, she was raped by Hiremath at a five-star hotel in Chanakyapuri, on February 20. The Delhi Police has issued a lookout circular against him, barring him from leaving the country.

During the transit bail application hearing, Senior Counsel Aabad Ponda submitted that his client has a good case on merits and to enable Hiremath to move to an appropriate court in New Delhi, he must be granted protection from arrest.

Ponda sought transit bail for a limited period under Section 438 of CrPC adding that his client was falsely implicated. Ponda further argued that Hiremath got to know through news items published that the police are on the lookout for him.

However, Additional Public Prosecutor S S Pednekar said that relief should not be granted as Hiremath was accused of a serious crime. He further submitted the concerned police station was also not made a party.

Ponda submitted a judgement from the Karnataka HC wherein transit anticipatory bail is granted in a case registered under Section 376 of IPC but Justice Naik said he was not inclined to grant relief.