A local court in Madhubani, Bihar has ordered a Dhobi (washerman), accused of attacking and outraging the modesty of women, to wash the clothes of all women in the town for six months without any charge, as a bail condition.
While granting bail to the accused on bail bond of Rs 10,000 and two sureties of the like amount on August 28, Judge Avinash Kumar from Jhanjharpur further directed him to clean and maintain the drain in front of his house, after the accused gave an undertaking to perform social service [Md Rustam vs State].
The accused was booked under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 354(b) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 379 (theft), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) read with Section 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
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The Counsel for the accused argued that his client was innocent, while submitting that the other accused in the case had been let off on anticipatory bail. It came on record that the accused had spent four months in jail since April 24 and a charge sheet had been filed by the investigating agency.
The man was stated to have filed an ‘application-cum-undertaking,’ stating his willingness to carry out social service to show his ‘bonafide without prejudice to his rights’.