Rape Accused Was Denied Bail. Then Judge Said 'Chop Off Hand, Leg' — And Courtroom Became Controversy
Rape Accused Was Denied Bail. Then Judge Said 'Chop Off Hand, Leg' — And Courtroom Became Controversy Curated By, Edited By Last Updated: June 02
Rape Accused Was Denied Bail. Then Judge Said 'Chop Off Hand, Leg' — And Courtroom Became Controversy Curated By, Edited By Last Updated: June 02, 2026, 11:46 IST The judge added that crimes were being committed 'casually' because offenders were not dealt with firmly, and drew comparisons with punishments in certain West Asian nations. Police say the accused lured his former classmate to an apartment under the guise of discussing their friendship, then sexually assaulted her in September 2023. A Karnataka High Court judge sparked a major controversy this week after suggesting that amputating limbs — as practised in some West Asian countries — could be an effective way to deter crime in India. The remarks came during a bail hearing for a 23-year-old engineering student accused of rape, which the judge denied. According to The Times of India, Justice R Nataraj made the remarks while hearing the accused’s bail plea.
The student, arrested in early April, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a former classmate in September 2023. The High Court has issued a notice to the Karnataka government and posted the matter for the next hearing on June 8. What Exactly Did The Judge Say? “Law has lost its teeth because we don’t deal with offenders firmly. If you chop off a leg or a hand, then people will, perhaps, realise to comply with law. Because we have a democracy, everybody takes advantage of it," Justice Nataraj was quoted as saying. He added that crimes were being committed “casually" because offenders were not dealt with firmly, and drew comparisons with punishments in certain West Asian nations. What Is The Case About? Police allege that the accused, then a classmate of the survivor, called her to an apartment on the pretext of discussing their friendship and sexually assaulted her on September 12, 2023.
The survivor first approached the Commission for Women before filing a formal police complaint. The accused has been in judicial custody since early April. What Did The Defence Argue? The defence contended that the student had already spent nearly two months in jail for an offence he allegedly did not commit and that the events in question were nearly three years old. The judge was unmoved, saying: “If you eat salt, you got to drink water. Let him stay for another four-five days. Let him get used to prison." Why Are The Remarks Controversial? India is a constitutional democracy that prohibits cruel and degrading punishment. Legal experts and civil society argue that a sitting High Court judge publicly endorsing corporal punishment — even rhetorically — undermines constitutional values, judicial propriety, and the very framework of rights the courts are meant to protect. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Sumedha Kirti Sumedha Kirti is a Chief Sub Editor with over eight years of experience — both at the desk and reporting.
She is a graduate from Delhi University's Miranda House. Kirti has previously worked with news... Read More First Published: June 02, 2026, 11:46 IST News cities bengaluru-news Rape Accused Was Denied Bail. Then Judge Said 'Chop Off Hand, Leg' — And Courtroom Became Controversy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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