The Karnataka High Court today directed the state government to take steps to arrest "at the earliest" an accused, who is on bail and absconding, charged with raping a minor girl eight months back.
"You must arrest him, he must be in custody at the earliest. Instruct the jurisdiction police. We want a report on this. If required, we will order investigation by special branch like CID", a division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna told government counsel.
The court hearing a batch of petitions by advocate Vijay Kumar and others, directed that an officer from the Home department also be present at the next hearing so that it can know the problems of the department.
To the submission by counsel for the minor girl's family that they were ostracised and her father was allegedly assaulted by some community members for refusing to get his daughter married to the accused, the bench pulled up the government for not providing them protection.
The court then adjourned the matter, directing government to furnish details pertaining to protection to the victim and her family and steps taken to arrest the accused, who is at large.
