Mangaluru: An application will be filed seeking the cancellation of bail granted to Krishna J. Rao, the accused in a case involving the alleged cheating of a young woman in Puttur after fathering her child and refusing to marry her, said State Backward Classes Commission member Pratibha Kulai. She also announced that a protest, along with a naming ceremony for the child, will be held at Kalladka on January 24, asserting that the option of compromise has now been firmly closed.

Addressing a press conference at the Mangaluru Press Club on Friday, Kulai spoke in the presence of the aggrieved woman, her infant child and the woman’s parents. She said the matter was no longer just a personal dispute but a question of dignity, justice and social responsibility.

DNA proof but refusal to marry

Kulai stated that a DNA test has conclusively established that Krishna J. Rao is the biological father of the child. Despite this, she alleged, the accused has refused to marry the woman with whom he was in a relationship for nearly eight years.

“Instead of taking responsibility, he has offered ₹50 lakh as compensation to settle the issue. The woman and her family have categorically rejected this proposal. We are not here for money; we are here for justice and dignity,” Kulai said.

She added that people from different sections of society had come forward to support the victim, describing the response as a sign that society was no longer willing to tolerate such injustices.

Silence broken after compromise failed

Kulai said she and others supporting the woman had remained silent initially, hoping that after securing bail, Krishna J. Rao would do the right thing by marrying the woman and giving their child a legitimate social identity.

“Unfortunately, instead of resolving the issue, his mother has now filed defamation cases against me and the victim’s mother. It is ironic, because it is the dignity of the young woman and her family that has truly been destroyed,” she alleged.

She said these developments had forced them to intensify their fight and seek legal remedies, including the cancellation of bail.

Criticism of political silence

The commission member criticised political leaders and influential figures along the coast for confining themselves to speeches about unity within Hindu society without intervening in real-life cases of injustice.

“Talking about unity has no meaning if we cannot stand by a woman who has been wronged. That is why we are inviting voices from all communities to speak up,” Kulai said.

In this context, she announced that the protest would begin from Kalladka, the hometown of Dr Prabhakar Bhat, which she described as a strong political and organisational centre. She said holding the child’s naming ceremony there on January 24 would send a powerful message of social accountability.

‘No logic in abandoning her’

Kulai said it was difficult to understand the accused’s refusal to marry the woman. “They were in a relationship for eight years. A child has been born from that relationship. There is absolutely no logic in abandoning her now,” she said.

She emphasised that the woman was not helpless, but was undergoing immense emotional distress. “She has been deeply traumatised and has even had suicidal thoughts. We are standing firmly by her and will proceed strictly in accordance with the court’s decision,” Kulai added.

Appeal to Puttur MLA

Referring to Puttur MLA Arun Kumar Puthila, Kulai said she respected him and recalled how he had organised a grand celestial wedding for Lord Srinivasa. “That wedding happened long ago. Today, it is a victimised young woman who needs support and dignity,” she said, urging the MLA to help facilitate her marriage with Krishna J. Rao.

She also revealed details of what she described as unacceptable conditions placed by the accused’s parents during compromise talks. According to her, they demanded that the child be sent to a shelter home, after which Krishna J. Rao would marry the woman only to later divorce her. They also allegedly insisted on the withdrawal of all cases against him before any settlement and offered ₹50 lakh as compensation.

“These conditions are inhuman. We do not want money. We want social justice,” Kulai said, adding that she herself was ready to pay ₹50 lakh if Krishna J. Rao married the woman and accepted responsibility as a husband and father.

Voices of pain and plea for justice

Speaking briefly, the aggrieved woman expressed her anguish. “I made a mistake. Everything went wrong. Now if someone asks who the father of my child is, what should I say? Just thinking about it makes me feel like dying,” she said.

Her mother echoed the demand for justice. “My daughter made a mistake, and he made one too. The DNA test has proved this is their child. We are not asking for money. We want him to marry my daughter and lead a proper family life,” she said.

Way forward

Kulai concluded by stating that legal steps would be pursued without hesitation and that the upcoming protest would continue until justice was delivered. “This is not about revenge. It is about restoring dignity to a young woman and ensuring accountability. We will not step back,” she said.