Mumbai, Maharashtra – May 27, 2022 – A Mumbai Sessions Court has rejected the bail application of Abdul Gulab Sayed, an accused in a gang rape, cheating, and obscenity case. The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Smt. Sanjashree J. Gharat, denied bail citing the seriousness of the allegations and the direct involvement of the accused in the crime.

Sayed was arrested in connection with Crime No. 66 of 2021, registered at Malvani Police Station, under sections 292 (sale, etc., of obscene books, etc.), 293 (sale, etc., of obscene objects to young person), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 376 (rape) read with 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as sections 67 and 67-A of the Information Technology Act, 2005, and sections 3, 4, 6, and 7 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

The complainant, an actress, alleged that she was lured under the pretext of a role in a web series. She was taken to a bungalow in Madh Island, where she was coerced into performing sexual acts with three men of short stature, including Sayed, and then with another actor. These acts were filmed and subsequently uploaded to the NUEFLIKS website.

During the bail hearing, Sayed’s advocates, Ms. Aarti Dharamsey and Ms. Leela Ranga, argued that their client was falsely implicated and that his name was not mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR). They also argued that Sayed, who is only 2.5 feet tall, could not be considered a “dwarf/tiny man” as described in the complaint. They stated that all allegations were against co-accused Gehana Vasisht and others, and that custodial interrogation of Sayed was unwarranted.

The prosecution, represented by Ld. APP. Kalpana Hire, strongly opposed the bail application, arguing that Sayed, along with co-accused, had committed a serious offense. They highlighted that Sayed had forcibly committed sexual intercourse with the victim and expressed concerns that he might tamper with evidence or pressurize the complainant and witnesses if released on bail.

Judge Gharat, after reviewing the FIR and hearing both sides, noted the serious allegations of rape, cheating, and threats against Sayed and co-accused Gehana Vasisht. The court emphasized that there was a direct allegation against Sayed regarding the alleged offense and that the nature of the allegations was serious.

“Looking into the gravity of offence, I am not inclined to grant bail to the Accused,” Judge Gharat stated in the order.

The court rejected Sayed’s bail application, emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses and the direct involvement of the accused.