The Supreme Court has dismissed all petitions requesting the annulment of the bail granted by the Calcutta High Court circuit bench to Jitendra Narain (IAS:1990:AGMUT), an IAS officer under suspension. Narain, along with his co-accused officials, is facing grave allegations of gang rape against a woman, perpetrated under the guise of a job opportunity. The apex court’s ruling sustains the bail awarded to Jitendra Narain, the former Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, even as investigations into the distressing rape case continue.
The decision from the Supreme Court comes after a period of extensive legal deliberation. Earlier, on August 1, the court had reserved its judgment on a plea challenging the bail granted to Narain. A division bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah had heard arguments presented by both the State and the legal representatives of the victim.
As per reports, a young woman was enticed to the official residence of the suspended IAS officer with the assurance of a government job, only to become a victim of rape at the hands of multiple individuals, including Jitendra Narain himself. These allegations prompted the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve into the matter, leading to Narain’s arrest on November 10 of the preceding year. The SIT’s exhaustive 935-page charge sheet was filed on February 3.
The Port Blair circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court had granted bail to Narain on February 20, a decision that has now been upheld by the Supreme Court.
The case against Narain, as well as his co-accused individuals such as businessman Sandeep Singh, also known as Rinku, and suspended labor commissioner Rishishwarlal Rishi, encompasses a range of charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. These charges include rape, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, defamation, and tampering with evidence.
