Bail granted to maulana accused of molesting child

MUMBAI: A sessions court recently granted bail to a 47-year-old maulana who is accused of molesting a 10-year-old girl to whose home he used to go to teach Arabic.

The man had filed the bail plea on the grounds of his age, that he has no criminal antecedents and that he is a maulana from a respectable background. His advocate had argued before court that there was a dispute on the matter of fees and hence a false complaint had been filed by the family of the child. The prosecution had objected to the grant of bail and told court that the man may threaten witness if enlarged on bail and that the statement of the victim before the magistrate was remaining.

As per the complaint registered by the Agripada police station, the man used to visit the residence of the child to teach her Arabic and had touched her inappropriately when her mother was not at home.

Allowing the bail plea, additional sessions judge PV Ghule directed the man to furnish a cash bail of Rs. 10,000 at the nearest police station. While granting the bail, the court observed that the chargesheet is filed, the investigation is over and the accused has been in jail for almost 90 days. It further noted that he is a resident of Mumbra, she is a resident of South Mumbai and considering the pandemic situation it will take time to record the her statement before the magistrate. The order also added that there is no penetrative sexual assault.