Judge, who granted bail to rape-accused Gayatri Prajapati, suspended two days before retirement

The Allahabad High Court had on Friday stayed the bail order granted by the sessions court to Samajwadi Party leader and former minister Gayatri Prajapati.

Allahabad: Additional Sessions Judge Om Prakash Mishra, who granted bail to the rape accused Samajwadi Party leader and former minister Gayatri Prajapati, was suspended on Friday, two days before he was to retire.

The Allahabad High Court has also ordered a departmental inquiry against the judge.

According to reports, Justice Sudhir Agarwal will conduct the probe against the judge.

The news was confirmed by Registrar General DK Singh.

The Allahabad HC had also on Friday stayed the bail order granted by the sessions court to Prajapati.

The order was passed by Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale on an application moved by the state government through Additional Advocate General VK Shahi seeking cancellation of bail granted to Prajapati and two other co-accused in the case.

Shahi submitted that sufficient time was not given by the sessions court to the prosecution for seeking instructions against the accused.

He further contended that in his bail application, Prajapati stated that he had no criminal case pending against him but six cases were pending against him.

Putting the bail on hold "until further orders" on Friday, Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale said, "I may however observe that the manner in which the learned judge has shown the haste in releasing the accused on bail ignoring the nature of offence allegedly committed by the respondent accused and the fact that the crime came to be registered against these accused by virtue of the order of the Supreme Court dated 17/2/2017.I have my reservations about the bonafides/intention of the learned judge who is about to retire on 30/4/2017."

Prajapati and two of his alleged accomplices were on Tuesday granted bail by special judge of POCSO court Om Prakash Mishra in connection with the rape case that had rocked the state some months ago during the Samajwadi Party rule.

A woman from Chitrakoot had approached Gautampalli police station on February 17, alleging that she was raped by Prajapati and two more men for several months before she alerted the police.

She also alleged that the three had also sexually assaulted her minor daughter at Prajapati's residence.