The Kerala High Court on Friday granted bail to Shobha John, an accused in the Varappuzha sex scandal case. Justice P Bhavadasan held that prolonged custody of the petitioner will be an injustice to her.
The petitioner had purchased the victim girl of tender age. But the girl had been thrown into the flesh market by none other than her mother, the prosecution said. The girl who was sold by her mother to Shobha John for Rs 5 lakh at Thiruvananthapuram, was sexually exploited at several places in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts.
Counsel for the petitioner submitted that all the other accused in the case have been released on bail, except Shobha. There were three crimes against the petitioner and she was granted bail in two cases and there was no complaint that she had violated bail conditions.
The court said that allegations against the petitioner are serious in nature. The records indicate that the mother took her daughter from place to place and offered her to various persons.
It was nearly after three years the victim was brought into the trade by the petitioner. However, the prime accused, the mother of the victim, has been released on bail, the court said.
The prosecution vehemently opposed the plea and submitted that the court had on an earlier occasion dismissed the plea of Shobha and observed that she was not entitled to the privilege of a woman owing to her criminal antecedents. If she is released on bail she will threaten the witnesses and blackmail several persons, the prosecution said.
The court directed Shobha to furnish a bond for Rs 1 lakh along with two sureties for the like amount and asked to appear before the investigating officer on all Mondays. The court made it clear that if any of the conditions is violated, the bail should be cancelled.