‘Mother can’t settle case’: Kerala High Court denies bail to man accused of daughter’s rape

The Kerala High Court has denied bail to a 50-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting his 17-year-old daughter, stressing that the mother cannot legally settle the case. The court ruled that the case against the father cannot be compromised or settled out of court, as any agreement between the parents of a minor victim and the prosecution would contravene the law's duty to prosecute sexual assault crimes against children.

The victim's mother had initially lodged a complaint, but later sought to settle the matter, disregarding the welfare of her minor daughter. The court emphasized that the offences involving sexual assault of a minor are non-compoundable, and the accused was arrested and remanded to judicial custody following his arrest.