Why did the Karnataka High Court allow the accused to marry the survivor he sexually abused?

A 23-year-old youth from Mysuru has been granted interim bail to enter into a marital union with an 18-year-old whom he had sexually abused as a minor. It may be noted that the 18-year-old now has a baby and the interim bail was granted by the Karnataka High Court.

Considering the peculiar nature of the case, the order was passed as the 18-year-old young mother has to bring up the child alone. In order to ensure that the newborn child does not have to suffer any disgrace in future and to ensure that the interests of the mother and child are protected, this order was passed, Justice M Nagaprasanna informed, as per a report by The new Indian Express.

According to a complaint filed by the survivor’s mother, the now 18-year-old and the accused were in love. In 2023, the youth took the girl, who was then a minor and attending a school in Mysuru, to a remote location and sexually abused her there.

The next day, the case was opened, the accused was taken into custody and later the girl gave birth to a child.

While the accused filed a motion to quash the case, the girl’s and the accused’s lawyers stated that their parents, despite their love, were against it.

The defendant therefore wanted to end the proceedings and marry the survivor. Since the families had now also agreed on their marriage, the court could examine the application, the lawyers told the court.

Meanwhile, the DNA report presented in court established that the accused and the victim are the biological father and mother of the child.

The judge said that the mother had to raise her child at this tender age. With the future of the mother and the child in mind, the court allowed the accused to marry the victim, who was now over 18 years old.