(UNI) The Bombay High Court has granted bail to a man who was arrested for allegedly facilitating his son's elopement with a minor girl in Solapur.
Sunil Khamitkar, a driver in government transport department, was arrested in March this year by police in Solapur for allegedly facilitating his son's elopement with a 16-year-old girl and then demanding a ransom of Rs 25 lakh from the girl's father.
While granting bail to accused, Justice S C Dharmadhikari observed that the prosecution had relied on hearsay statements of some witnesses claiming that the accused had demanded money from the complainant (girl's father) for the release of the girl.
'Prima facie, this material is not enough to continue the detention of the applicant (Khamitkar). There is no direct conversation with regard to that demand. Merely because the daughter of the complainant and the son of the applicant are not traceable that by itself and without anything more, is not enough to detain the applicant in custody any longer,' the court said and directed Khamitkar to furnish a surety of Rs 15,000.
Khamitkar was arrested on March 13 this year for offences punishable under sections 363 (kidnapping) of Indian Penal Code.
According to prosecution, Khamitkar's son had eloped with the complainant's daughter, studying in standard XI. UNI
