Bail In Immoral Trafficking Case: Lack of Forcible Induction into Prostitution: Karnataka High Court

In a significant legal development, the Karnataka High Court, under the jurisdiction of The Hon'ble Mr. Justice S Vishwajith Shetty, delivered a judgment on 29th November, 2023, granting bail to the petitioner in a case involving a multitude of charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, and the Information Technology Act. The court's decision highlighted a crucial legal point regarding the absence of evidence suggesting forcible induction into prostitution.

The judgment emphasized that the petitioner, accused in Crime No. 363/2023 registered by Bagalagunte Police Station, Bengaluru City, faced allegations related to Sections 370, 370A(2), 370(3), 34 IPC, Sections 3, 4, 5 of the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956, and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The court's observation was clear in stating that the rescued ladies, who were found in the premises during a police raid, were not forcibly induced into prostitution. Furthermore, the judgment noted that the alleged offenses were not exclusively punishable by life imprisonment or death. It also highlighted that a significant portion of the investigation had already been completed.

The court's decision to grant bail was seen as a favorable outcome for the petitioner, who had no prior criminal record. In light of this, the court imposed specific conditions as part of the bail, including the execution of a personal bond with sureties, mandatory appearance on all hearing dates, prohibition from threatening witnesses or engaging in similar offenses, and restrictions on leaving the jurisdiction of the Trial Court without prior permission.

Date of Decision: 29 November, 2023

MANJUNATH @ SHANTHI  VS  STATE OF KARNATAKA