Anand Holla / Mid-day

Mumbai, Mar 25: Alleged rapist Abhishek Kasliwal’s lawyers believe he could not have raped his 52-year-old accuser because of his educational qualification and family background.

In their bizarre eight-page bail application, filed before the Sewri fast-track court yesterday, they said that since Kasliwal is highly qualified and comes from a respectable family, it is “highly impossible” that he could commit rape.

The bail plea, which will be heard on March 28, states that Kasliwal, “has studied in Sydenham College (Churchgate) and went to Australia to study textile manufacturing technology, (and) it is highly impossible that a student with such qualification and family background would step down to such levels as alleged by the respondents.”

It goes on to claim that Kasliwal has been falsely implicated in the case, by “a mentally unstable, alcoholic, 52-year-old, who wants to extract only money”.

However, investigating officer R B Dhole said, “Absolutely no tests have been carried out to declare the victim mentally unstable. Why should there be any mental tests when she is mentally sound?”

Asking for bail on the grounds that there is no clear evidence and that the police have completed their investigation, the defence plea states, “The story appears to be concocted, false, and is a product of (the victim’s) imagination.” It also talks about an “oblique motive” on part of the victim, “which will be revealed at an appropriate stage”.

Public Prosecutor V B Bhalerao said, “The bail application will be heard on March 28. We will oppose their bail plea then.”

Kasliwal was booked for rape and causing grievous injury under the Indian Penal Code, after he allegedly raped a 52-year-old woman in Shree Ram Mills on March 11.