A disturbing trend is emerging where individuals accused of rape, after being released on bail, are allegedly resorting to further crimes, including kidnapping, to pressure victims and their families to drop the charges against them. These incidents raise serious questions about the effectiveness of the bail system in protecting potential victims and ensuring justice.

In one recent case, a man in Uttar Pradesh, out on bail for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl, is accused of abducting her again. According to police reports, the girl's family stated that the accused, Asif Khan alias Chhote Babu (22), kidnapped their daughter after they refused to withdraw the ongoing case against him. The girl was allegedly kidnapped on February 5th, and as of late February, she was yet to be traced.

Similarly, in March 2025, a 23-year-old man named Ashish Saroj, who had been granted bail after being arrested for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in April 2024 and holding her captive for three months, allegedly kidnapped the same girl again. The girl's mother filed a complaint stating that Saroj, along with his parents and a male relative, kidnapped her daughter on March 22. Saroj had been jailed under sections of rape and kidnapping of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, before obtaining bail from the Allahabad High Court in February.

These are not isolated incidents. Another report detailed a case where a man, after being released on bail for kidnapping a 17-year-old girl, allegedly abducted her again and raped her for approximately a month. According to the police, the accused had initially kidnapped the victim in August, and abandoned her near a railway station in September.

These cases highlight a critical flaw in the justice system. While bail is intended to ensure an accused person's appearance in court while awaiting trial, it appears that in some instances, it is enabling alleged perpetrators to further victimize those they have harmed. The victims and their families are then placed in a terrifying position, facing threats and intimidation while seeking justice.

The police have launched investigations into these recent kidnappings, forming teams to recover the victims and arrest the accused. However, the repeated nature of these crimes raises concerns about the need for stricter bail conditions in cases involving sexual assault, and a more thorough assessment of the potential risk to victims. It also calls for a serious examination of witness protection programs and support systems for victims and their families who are facing intimidation. The safety and well-being of victims must be prioritized, and the justice system needs to adapt to prevent such appalling incidents from recurring.