Transfer of rape case: HC reserves order till March 9

The High Court on Wednesday reserved its order till March 9, on the petition filed by a female singer who had accused Ramachandrapura Mutt seer Raghaveshwara Bharathi of raping her, seeking transfer of her case to another judge.

The singer, in her petition, had expressed the apprehension that no fair and impartial inquiry or trial will be conducted as the present sessions judge had made comments in the open court on February 6 stating that he would not subject the seer to any medical test.

She had stated that according to well-settled law, the cases of atrocities on women should be so far as practically possible, be tried by a woman presiding officer. Though several women presiding officers were available in Bengaluru, the present sessions judge had been notified to try the case on hand, the petitioner had contended.

The counsel for the seer argued that previously, the petitioner had expressed apprehension over the orders passed by the High Court and a High Court judge had also recused to hear the matter as the petitioner did not have faith in the court. Justice Pradeep D Waingankar reserved his order till March 9.