Holding that 'unbearable' pressure was built on a woman to abort her pregnancy following a matrimonial dispute, the Delhi High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of three persons accused in the case.
The court also directed the police to provide security to the woman, who is currently staying with her parents. It further asked police to trace a Godman, whose assistance was sought by the accused to terminate the complainant's pregnancy.
Rejecting the anticipatory bail pleas of Ashish Gupta (husband), Sushil Kumar (father-in-law) and their relative Sunita, Justice RV Eswar upheld the trial court's order dismissing their pleas.
After recording the statement of the woman, who got married to Ashish in January, the court said, “From her demeanour and the manner in which she responded to the queries of the court, it appears that she was under tremendous pressure and compulsion.”
The court relied upon the medical reports produced by the woman for her treatment after she was forcefully given abortion pills and said, “This court takes a serious view of the matter. It is clear that unbearable pressure was mounted upon her by her in-laws. The safety and security of the complainant is of another concern in this case.”
"There is enough material to show that all three applicants had significant roles in forcing her to swallow abortion pills. The complainant is of tender age and at this age serious damage could have been caused to her reproductive system for forcing her to consume pills without medical advice or supervision," the court said.
The High Court further directed the trial court to verify the age of the complainant at the time of the marriage. According to the complainant, she got married on January 15 and since then her husband tortured her and alleged that she had an illicit relation with some boy.
She said that fter learning that she was pregnant, her in-laws started abusing her and she was kept in the house of accused Sunita.