World · India Bureau
Bombay High Court denies bail to man accused of killing granddaughter
A Bombay High Court judge has rejected a bail plea from a man accused of murdering his granddaughter, citing society's persistent gender bias favouring male children. The court rejected arguments that the accused should be freed since the child's mother, also an accused, had already been granted bail.
LSN India ·
The Bombay High Court has refused bail to Gopinath Janku Pradhan, accused of killing his granddaughter, in a judgement that underscores deep-rooted social preferences for male children in India.
Pradhan's legal counsel argued for his release on bail, contending that he had been wrongfully implicated and pointing to the fact that the child's mother, who was also named as an accused in the case, had been granted bail earlier. The defence maintained that Pradhan's custody was no longer necessary for the investigation to proceed.
However, the High Court rejected these arguments while observing on the prevalence of gender-biased attitudes in society. The court's order reflected growing judicial concern about crimes motivated by preferences for male children, a persistent issue across India despite legal prohibitions on sex-selective practices.
The case remains under investigation, with the child's mother currently on bail pending further legal proceedings. The High Court's decision underscores the judiciary's commitment to taking seriously cases involving harm to female children and the societal factors that may motivate such crimes.