Karan Oberoi granted bail in rape case

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has granted bail to actor Karan Oberoi who was arrested for raping his girlfriend, an astrologer, under the pretext of marriage. The high court has directed him to pay Rs 50,000 as bail amount and asked him to remain present before the investigation officer as and when required.

Oberoi was arrested on May 5 after a 34-year-old woman alleged that he raped her on several occasions and extorted money and gifts from her. Oberoi, in his bail plea, claimed that he and the woman were in a consensual relationship and she levelled the rape allegations only after they broke up.

Justice Revati Mohite Dere Friday granted Oberoi bail on a surety of Rs 50,000. While granting relief to Oberoi, the Judge noted that the woman, on May 25, “orchestrated” a fake attack on her and tried to make it look like she had been targeted because of her complaint against the actor. “… To ensure that the applicant (Oberoi) does not get bail, the complainant orchestrated an attack on herself,” Justice Dere said.

The HC also noted that the complainant wanted to marry Oberoi, but he declined and began to avoid her. The messages exchanged between them showed that she had voluntarily purchased gifts for him and he had not made any such demands, the Judge said.

The Judge also reprimanded the police for the way the probe was being conducted. “Much needs to be said about the manner in which the probe has been carried out. The police is yet to seize the mobile phones of the complainant,” said Justice Dere said.