Bail granted to three accused in Udupi kidnap and rape case

A district court on Friday granted bail to three individuals accused in a controversial kidnap and rape case involving a 21-year-old Hindu woman in Karkala, Udupi district. The incident, which surfaced on August 24, had sparked communal tensions, as the primary accused, Altaf (34), is a Muslim.

According to the victim’s statement, she was kidnapped near her workplace by Altaf, whom she had befriended on Instagram. She alleged that the accused forced her to consume a sedative-laced drink and subsequently raped her. The victim was later dropped home.

The case, registered under Sections 135, 64, and 3(5) of the BNS Act, also led to the arrest of two others, Savio Richard Quadros (35) and Abhay (23). Hindu organizations alleged that the victim was gang-raped, demanding severe action, while the police dismissed these claims and warned against spreading rumors.

The incident escalated politically, with the Karnataka BJP highlighting it as part of a broader pattern of “Love Jihad” and urging strict action. BJP State General Secretary V. Sunil Kumar condemned the crime as a premeditated conspiracy, pointing to the use of drugs and abduction methods. He called for societal awareness to prevent similar incidents and vowed to fight against such crimes.

Additional arrests include Giriraju Jagadabi (31) of Andhra Pradesh and John Noronha (30) of Shankarapura, Kapu taluk, who are also implicated in the case. Investigations are ongoing.

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