Delhi HC Denies Bail To Afghan National Accused Of Raping US Woman [Read Order]

The Delhi High Court, on Tuesday, refused to grant bail to an Afghan national accused of raping a woman from the United States of America.

In view of the evidence on record, Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal opined that prima facie, Mr. Hameedullah Mohd. Akbar seemed to be "actively involved" in the commission of the alleged offences.

Mr. Akbar has been accused by a US citizen of cheating, sexual assault and extortion. She has alleged that she had been duped into maintaining a physical relationship with the accused. She further claims that Mr. Akbar had cheated her of an amount of USD 86,000 and had also threatened to upload indecent pictures and videos of her on the internet.

The accused has denied these allegations, claiming that the entire case against him was concocted and false. He had further submitted that he was a father of two children and that his wife was pregnant. Denying him bail would adversely affect his family and career, he had thereafter contended.

Taking note of the contentions put forth by both the sides, the Court observed that the allegations leveled by the complainant are "serious and grave in nature". Besides, the Court also noted that Mr. Akbar's visa had expired way back in December, 2013. He had claimed to have been adopted by one Ms. Ansari Begum. The claim had, however, been denied by Ms. Begum, with the adoption deed under challenge in separate proceedings.

The Court, hence, dismissed the application, observing, "Keeping in view the principles laid down by the Apex Court and after careful scrutiny of the facts and circumstances of the present case, the contents of the FIR in question and other material placed on record and in view of the serious allegations against the petitioner and other factors including severity of the punishment prescribed in law, I find no sufficient ground to grant bail to the petitioner."