In a significant development, the Mumbai Sessions court refused the bail plea of a man accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl in a public toilet located in the Bhandup area.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred in December 2023, when the girl raised an alarm, prompting bystanders to gather and apprehend the 23-year-old accused, Siddhant Herode. Herode was subsequently arrested on December 23, 2023. Since then, he has made several attempts to secure bail through multiple petitions in the special court.
Herode’s defense argued that at the time of the incident, he was intoxicated and mistakenly entered the public toilet, which was a shared facility for both men and women. It was contended that Herode did not recognize the victim, and the act was unintentional. However, Special Public Prosecutor Kalpana Hire, representing the state, opposed the bail plea, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations made by the girl and the consistency of her statement.
Special Judge SC Jadhav, in rejecting Herode’s bail application, highlighted that Herode had not appealed the previous rejection of bail in the high court but instead filed another plea in the trial court itself. The judge clarified that while successive bail applications can be entertained if substantial changes are demonstrated, in this case, no such alterations were evident. Justice Jadhav concluded that given the circumstances and the stage of the investigation, granting bail would not be appropriate.
The court’s decision underscores the gravity of the allegations and the importance of due process in handling such cases, reflecting a commitment to uphold justice and protect the rights of victims.
