The single judge bench of Justice S.V. Kotval of the Bombay High Court has granted bail to a woman accused of trafficking a 22-year-old from Bangladesh. The woman had lured the victim with a false job offer before forcing her into prostitution.
The victim was first taken to Kolkata and later transported to Pune, where the accused sold her for ₹30,000. While being transported, the victim's cries for help attracted a crowd, leading to her rescue by the police.
The woman had previously sought bail in 2020 but withdrew her application. In 2023, she approached the court again, citing a lack of progress in the trial and emphasizing her six-year imprisonment.
Despite opposition from the Additional Public Prosecutor, who argued for a swift trial due to the serious nature of the offence, the court acknowledged the challenges posed by the victim's location in Bangladesh and granted bail.
The high court in its order recorded that, “There is no doubt that the offence is extremely serious, but the fact that the trial is not likely to conclude soon, cannot be overlooked. The other two accused are already released on bail. The passport of the Applicant is deposited with the investigating agency,” the order reads
Case title: Sanjana Biren Panikar vs State of Maharashtra.
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