The Pauri municipality chairman Yashpal Singh Rawat 'Benam' who had been arrested on September 6 after a woman journalist had registered a police complaint on August 30 against him for allegedly sexually assaulting her, was released on bail on Tuesday.
Benam’s lawyer had filed a bail application in the district court on Monday and the court had fixed Tuesday for the next hearing on the case.
The complainant’s lawyer had opposed the bail prayer for Benam in the court on the ground of the victim’s statement having been recorded under section 164 of CrPC and of Benam having been booked under sections 379 and 511 of IPC.After hearing both the sides, the court granted bail to Benam on Tuesday.
Woman complainant who had expressed displeasure over Benam’s bail was admitted in a hospital following her sudden illness. A police officer said that in regards to this case, investigation is on.
However, the woman complainant has not
provided the mobile phone to the police so far, fearing that police may temper the audio record Benam being an influential person.
Notably, Pauri police had arrested Benam on September 6 for the crime of sexual assault on the woman journalist under section 354 A-1, 354- B, 376, 511 and 506 of Indian Penal Code. Benam was sent for 14 days’ judicial custody after being presented before the court.The woman complainant had registered a zero FIR of sexual assault against Benam on August 30 in Dalanwala Police Station (Dehradun) and later, the FIR was transferred to Pauri
district.
Taking cognisance of this, a case under sections 294, 354, 354a, 354 b, 376, 511 and 506 of IPC was registered against the chairman in the Women Police Station, Srinagar.
She had alleged that Benam had attempted to sexually molest her on August 23, when she had met him, seeking payment for some advertisements. An advertisement related to municipality was printed in the magazine on the eve of Independence Day.