Mumbai: The sessions court has granted interim bail to Rajani Bharti, a small-time model booked by the police on charges of forcing her minor maid to solicit clients at various places across Mumbai, Surat and Pune.
Additional sessions judge P H Mali granted Bharti interim relief till July 1, when the prosecution will file its reply and the court will hear the matter.
Bharti's lawyer, Anand Jondhale, argued that she has been framed in a false case.
According to police, the maid (17) had been working at Bharti's house in suburban Versova since few months and earlier this year, the victim was offered a soft drink laced with sedatives.
"The next morning, the maid realised that she had been raped when she found bloodstains on her dress. She recalled having seen a stranger in her room. When confronted, Bharti identified the man as one Nandu and admitted to having accepted Rs 50,000 from him. She threatened the victim against disclosing the incident to anyone," a police officer said.
It is alleged that Bharti even took the victim to cities such as Pune, Surat and Ahmedabad. The girl managed to escape from Surat on May 18 and narrated her plight to an aunt in Mumbai.
Following this, a case was filed against Bharti.