Kochi: Kerala High Court on Monday granted bail to Swami Gangeshananda whose genitals were cut off by a woman while he allegedly attempted to rape her.
The court directed the petitioner to furnish a bond of Rs 60,000 plus two solvent sureties. The accused should not enter the area under the jurisdiction of Thiruvananthapuram district and sessions court for purposes other than his medical treatment and to appear before the investigating officer, the court said. Gangeshananda moved the court contending that 90 days have passed since the arrest and he is eligible for bail. The High Court had earlier dismissed the bail application.
State had opposed the bail plea and submitted that investigation in the case is progressing. However, Gangeshananda argued that as he is undergoing treatment at Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital and that there may be chances of him getting infected while in the ward. If granted bail, he could be shifted to a pay ward so as to avoid infection, he said. The woman, who allegedly cut off the genitals of Gangeshananda, had submitted before High Court that the police forced her to make statements contrary to the facts and Swami has not made any sexual assault.
