Delhi Court Orders Release Of Accused In London Pub Rape Case After HC Grants Bail

A Delhi court has ordered the release of fugitive criminal Jose Inacio Cota, accused in the 2017 London Pub Rape case, after the Delhi High Court granted him interim bail for 6 months.

Although Cota was ordered to be extradited to the UK, his extradition has been stayed due to another pending case against him in India.

Previously on Thursday, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Abhishek Kumar of Patiala House Court ordered Cota’s release after accepting his bail bond. The Delhi High Court, presided by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, granted interim bail to Cota on July 10, considering submissions from the respondent’s counsel without delving into the merits of the case, as the extradition order was already challenged by the petitioner in 2023.

Cota, represented by advocates Arpit Batra and Nihal P. Kamat, filed a petition under Section 439 Cr.P.C., read with Section 25 of the Extradition Act, seeking regular bail in the complaint case titled “Union of India vs. Jose Inacio Cota.” It was argued that Cota could not be extradited due to a pending criminal case in Goa.

The counsel for the Central Government contended that, according to Section 31(d) of the Extradition Act, extradition is not possible until the criminal case registered at PS Maina Curtorim, Goa, in 2021 is resolved. The Central Government also responded that Cota could be released on bail under strict conditions until he is either acquitted or has served his sentence in the pending case.

The High Court granted Cota interim bail on the condition of furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 1 lakh with a similar amount of surety. Additionally, Cota was directed to surrender his passport and report to the local police station in Goa every Friday at 5:00 PM. He was also instructed to remain within the territory of Goa, not leave the state without notifying the concerned court in Goa, and not travel abroad without permission from the trial courts in New Delhi.

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