Convict exchanges flowers with survivor, resolves to marry; SC suspends rape sentence
Supreme Court of India on Thursday suspended the sentence and released a rape convict on bail after he exchanged flowers with the survivor and the two expressed willingness to marry each other.
A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma noted that the parties unequivocally stated before court that they are willing to marry each other.
"The details of their marriage shall be worked out by their respective parents and we hope that the marriage takes place as expeditiously as possible", ordered the court.
The bench suspended the sentence and released the petitioner on bail while asking the concerned Sessions Court to release him, subject to such conditions as it may deem appropriate to impose.
Having regard to the sensitivity of the matter, top court had directed the parties as well as their parent along with their respective counsel and standing counsel for the State of Madhya Pradesh to appear before it in Chamber.
The parties were then asked to have a dialogue and inform the Court as to whether they were inclined to get engaged and be married to each other.
Allegedly, the couple came in contact through Facebook and had physical relations between 2016 and 2021. The woman claimed that the convict had assured to marry her but backtracked following which he was charged with rape.
Case Title: SANDEEP SINGH THAKUR vs. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH & ANR.