The Bombay High Court has granted interim protection from arrest to Prithviraj Patil, the grandson of former Bihar and West Bengal Governor DY Patil, in a significant rape case.
Patil, also the nephew of former Maharashtra minister Satej Patil, sought anticipatory bail from the High Court after his request was denied in the Thane Sessions Court earlier this month.
During proceedings, Additional Public Prosecutor Ajay S. Patil argued that the survivor should be included as a party respondent in Patil’s plea. In response, Senior Advocate Ashok Mundargi, representing Patil, requested permission to add the survivor to the case.
The bench, led by Justice Rajesh Patil, approved this request but warned that failure to amend the petition promptly would lead to the dismissal of the anticipatory bail application without further discussion. The court determined that notice would be served to the victim through the appropriate investigating agency.
Additionally, the court mandated that Prithviraj Patil appear before the investigating officer for questioning on April 16 and 17.
Patil faces allegations of repeatedly raping a 29-year-old student under the pretense of marriage. The complaint states that the woman met Patil at a mall in January 2023, after which they developed a relationship.
In his defense, Patil asserts that he has been falsely implicated as part of a honey trap scheme, claiming the informant has a history of targeting notable individuals with similar accusations. His legal counsel argued that Patil has never visited Thane, is married, and holds no prior criminal record. Furthermore, it was stated that the woman allegedly extorted a substantial sum from him over time.
The next hearing in this case is set for April 21.
