Allahabad High Court Grants Bail to 70-Year-Old Man Accused of Unnatural Sex with Cow (image/allahabadhighcourt.in)

The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to a 70-year-old man accused of engaging in unnatural sex with a cow.

The bail plea was filed by the accused, Ram Khelawan, who faced charges under Section 377 (unnatural sex), 504 (intentional insult), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The case was under trial in a court in Ayodhya.

A bench of Justice Jaspreet Singh granted conditional bail to Khelawan, considering various factors such as the nature of allegations, the severity of punishment if convicted, and the absence of any indication of him fleeing or tampering with evidence.

The court observed, “… At this stage, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail.”

The case originated from an FIR filed after the complainant, whose cow Khelawan had been caring for, received a video on July 30 last year alleging unnatural acts by the accused. The petitioner’s counsel argued Khelawan’s innocence, citing his lack of criminal history and the absence of evidence linking his arrest to the alleged video.

The counsel also assured the court that there was zero possibility of the senior citizen fleeing after his release on bail, adding that the accused would not abuse the liberty of bail. The state counsel opposed the bail but couldn’t counter the defence’s arguments. However, the court did impose certain limitations to ensure Khelawan complies with the law and does not misuse the bail.