HC gives relief to traffic constable accused of raping policewoman

Court says since accused has been suspended from service, he will be available for investigation

The Bombay High Court recently granted interim pre-arrest protection to a traffic constable of the Maharashtra Police who was suspended for allegedly raping a policewoman. A single judge Bench of Justice Sandeep Shinde was hearing a plea filed by Madhav Vasave seeking anticipatory bail. On March 17, the sessions court had directed the State not to take coercive action against the accused, but declined to grant him protection from arrest. Mr. Vasave joined the force in 2006 and met the complainant, who was posted at a police station, in 2017. They entered into a sexual relationship, but in 2019 she learnt that he was already married. According to the complainant, the accused told her that his wife was mentally unsound and he wanted to divorce her. The policewoman also said that the accused started abusing her when she asked him to return the ₹1.5 lakh he had borrowed from her.