'Convey presence on Google Map to Police', HC puts precondition to bail

Delhi High Court has allowed the release of a retired school teacher convicted in February 2020 for raping a minor.

The Court, however, asked him to convey his presence on Google Maps to the local police station.

Justice Anup B Bhambhani took into account the medical history of the 73-year-old and his past condition that put him in a vulnerable category. The Court said his condition “makes it medically unsafe for him to remain in prison in the present circumstances of the prevalent public health emergency.

The Court said:

The Court noted that the accused would “also ‘drop-a-pin’ on Google Maps, so that the IO/SHO could verify the appellant’s presence and location.”

Pointing out that the order was passed in exceptional circumstances, the court noted that although the record showed that the convict had only been in prison since Feb 24 and that he had been convicted of heinous offences under POCSO Act, “in the unprecedented circumstances of a public health emergency that prevail today and the consequent need to decongest prisons for overall medical safety of all prisoners, this court is persuaded to grant to the appellant interim suspension of sentence.” Seeking relief, accused Babu Lal had cited his medical condition along with medical reports to claim he had underlying morbidities leaving him vulnerable to Covid-19.

He also cited the contents of discharge summary prepared by a private hospital showing his course of treatment in 2016 relating to various illnesses, including Type-II diabetes, hypertension and bronchial asthma.\

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