'You can't clap with one hand', Supreme Court got furious during the hearing of a rape case, granted bail to a social media influencer:

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to a 23-year-old influencer accused of raping a 40-year-old woman, noting that charges have not been framed against him despite being in jail for nine months and said the victim is "not a child" and "one hand cannot clap".

'The woman went to Jammu 7 times and the husband did not object?'

The bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, while making a sharp comment, also asked how the Delhi Police could register a rape case against the social media influencer youth, when the woman had gone with him voluntarily. The bench said, "One hand cannot clap. On what basis have you (Delhi Police) registered a case under Section 376 of the IPC. She is not a child. She is a 40-year-old woman. Both of them went to Jammu together. Why have you applied Section 376. This woman goes to Jammu seven times and the husband does not have any objection?"

The apex court said that this is a fit case for granting interim bail as the accused has been in jail for 9 months and the charges have not been framed. The court directed that the accused be produced before the subordinate court and granted interim bail subject to terms and conditions. The bench said that he will not misuse his liberty and will not try to contact the woman. The apex court also commented on the accused and asked, "Who is influenced by such people?"

What is the whole matter?

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by the accused youth against an order of the Delhi High Court. The High Court had refused to grant him bail considering the seriousness of the allegations. According to the police complaint, the woman first came in contact with the accused through social media in 2021 when she was looking for a social media influencer to promote her clothing brand.

Woman gives influencer an iPhone

During the initial conversation, the accused allegedly requested an iPhone to make the promotional material look impressive, which he made available through an authorised 'Apple Store' in Jammu. However, their professional relationship soured after the accused attempted to sell the iPhone. The authorised dealer refunded the money to the woman's account after deducting Rs 20,000. Though the accused promised to return the money, after some time the woman decided to end all relations with him, the complaint said.

'The youth raped the girl after making her unconscious and took obscene pictures'

The youth went to the woman's house in Noida in December 2021 to return Rs 20,000 and apologise. He then convinced the woman to travel with him to Connaught Place for a promotional shoot. During the trip, the accused allegedly gave her sweets laced with sedatives and she fainted. The accused said he would take her to Hindu Rao Hospital but he allegedly took the woman to a secluded area behind the hospital and sexually assaulted her, stole money from her purse and clicked obscene photographs of her.

The influencer kept taking me to Jammu by blackmailing me- Woman

According to the complaint, the woman was then allegedly forced to go to Jammu, where she was repeatedly sexually exploited, extorted and threatened over a period of two and a half years. An FIR was registered under sections 376 (rape), 354 (assault on woman), 323 (intentional hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (assaulting the modesty of a woman) and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.