HC grants 1-year bail to rape case convict after he marries victim

The High Court today granted one year bail to Dilip Khalko, a convict of a rape case, as he married the victim at Rajshahi jail gate in line with its conditional directive.

In the order, the HC said the bail of Dilip Khalko shall be cancelled if he denies the victim as his wife during their conjugal and family life, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Sarwar Hossain Bappi told The Daily Star.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the order after examining the documents sent by the Rajshahi jail authorities, saying that Dilip Khalko has married the victim on December 5, the DAG added.

During hearing a bail petition filed by convict Dilip Khalko, the HC bench on October 22 issued a condition that Dilip Khalko will be granted bail in the rape case if he marries the victim, said DAG Sarwar Hossain Bappi.

The bench also asked Rajshahi jail authorities to arrange the marriage at the jail gate if the convict agrees to marry the victim, and to submit a report to this court after complying with the order.

Today,  Dilip Khalko's lawyer SM Shahed Chowdhury placed the bail petition before the HC bench, praying the court to grant Dilip Khalko's bail in the case as he married the victim in line with its condition.

The Rajshahi Central Jail authorities on December 5 arranged the marriage of Dilip Khalko (30) of Chaitanyapur village in Rajshahi's Godagari in line with the HC order.

Dilip Khalk has been serving a life sentence in a case over the rape and has been behind bars for the last eight years.

According to the case statement, Dilip and the victim are cousins and reported to have been in a relationship.

The victim became pregnant in 2011 when she was 14. Dilip then refused to marry her.

On October 25 that year, the victim filed the rape case with Godagari Police Station, accusing Dilip.

On June 12 the following year, Rajshahi Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced him to life imprisonment.