Minor’s sexual assault: HC rejects bail to wife of suspended officer

The Delhi High Court on Friday denied bail to Seema Rani Khakha, wife of suspended Delhi Government officer Premoday Khakha, who is accused of repeatedly raping a minor girl and impregnating her.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, while hearing the case, rejected the bail application, saying that the case “strikes at the root of trust between two families” and that there is a risk of witness tampering at this stage.

Premoday Khakha has been accused of allegedly raping the daughter of a person known to him several times between November 2020 and January 2021. He was arrested in August 2023 and is currently in judicial custody.

The victim is the daughter of an acquaintance of Khakha, according to police reports.

Seema Rani allegedly gave the girl medicines to terminate her pregnancy. She is also in judicial custody.

Justice Sharma said while “bail is the rule and jail an exception”, the courts must strike a balance, especially in cases of sexual assault on minors.

“In the present case, the victim, after the death of her father, went to stay with the family of the accused. The victim used to call Premoday Khakha as ‘mama’,” the court noted.

The Delhi Police opposed Seema’s bail, arguing that she was not merely a “passive spectator”, but actively participated in the crime.

The couple was arrested in August 2023.