Delhi High Court Grants Pre-Arrest Bail to Journalist Varun Hiremath in Rape Case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted pre-arrest bail to Mumbai TV journalist Varun Hiremath, accused of raping a 22 year old woman in National Capital in connection with the FIR lodged in Chanakyapuri Police Station.

A single judge bench comprising of Justice Mukta Gupta has allowed the petition filed by Varun.

The Court had granted interim protection from arrest to Hiremath last month on the condition that he shall join the investigation whenever required.

A Delhi Court earlier issued non-bailable warrant against Hiremath, with the police moving a file before the Delhi Police Headquarters for a proposed reward announcement on his arrest.

In March, a Delhi Court had rejected his anticipatory bail application in the rape case of a 22-year old, observing, "So far as the question about consent or no consent, if the woman states in her evidence before court that she did not consent, the court shall presume that she did not consent."

About the FIR

Varun Hiremath is accused in an FIR filed by a 22 year old, Pune based woman in the Chanakyapuri Police Station, New Delhi under sec. 376 (punishment for rape), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 509 (insulting modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code. The Delhi Police had issued a lookout circular against him, barring him from leaving the country.

According to the said FIR, the woman had alleged that Varun Hiremath, while visiting Pune had met her on "Tinder", a geosocial networking and online dating platform, and had allegedly developed sexual relationship with her.

Thereafter on 19th February 2021, when Hiremath had come to visit Delhi, the woman decided to meet him in the national capital on 20th February 2021. A meeting took place between the two of them in Khan Market after which they went to ITC Maurya hotel.

According to the complaint, it was alleged by the woman that she was raped by Hiremath in the said five star hotel in Chanakyapuri. However, the said allegations were denied by Hiremath as being "false and frivolous" as the FIR was registered after a delay of 3 days i.e. on 23rd February 2021.

Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan with Advocates Jai Anant Dehadrai, Sidharth Arora, Vinoothna Vinjam, Ashna Chhabra represented the Victim

"Varun Hiremath was represented by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, along with Adv. Sandeep Kapur, Rajat Soni, Adv. Niharika Karanjawala, Adv. Apoorva Pandey, Adv. Gudipati G Kashyap and Adv. K Sharat from Karanjawala & Co"