Woman accused of forcing minor daughter into sexual relations denied bail by Uttarakhand high court

NAINITAL: The Uttarakhand high court has denied bail to a woman accused of forcing her 13-year-old daughter into sexual relations with a co-accused, saying the allegations were serious and involved the welfare of a minor.

A single bench of Justice Alok Mehra rejected the plea on Thursday, observing that the nature of the accusations and the possibility of witness intimidation weighed against granting relief.

The case stems from a complaint lodged in Haridwar by the victim’s father, who alleged that the woman made the minor consume alcohol and took her to multiple cities for sexual exploitation.

According to the prosecution, the girl was allegedly taken to Haridwar, Agra, Ghaziabad and Vrindavan, where the abuse continued over a period of time.

Seeking bail, the accused argued that the victim had been enrolled in a residential school during the period mentioned in the complaint.

The defence also cited a delay of nearly five months in filing the FIR, claiming it cast doubt on the prosecution’s version.

The state government, however, opposed the application.

The court held that inconsistencies or delays in the case should only be adjudicated by the trial court rather than during bail proceedings.

Justice Mehra said that while the mother has been in custody since June 2025, the duration of jail time cannot be a basis for bail in such serious cases.

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