Orissa High Court grants bail to accused in nun rape case

One of the accused in the Kandhamal nun rape case has been granted bail by the Orissa High Court.

Gururam Patra was arrested by the Crime Branch of police last year after the state government was criticized for its handling of the situation.

Patra was granted bail Saturday by a single judge bench of Justice C R Dash who said there was no evidence of his involvement in the rape case.

Justice Dash however contended that Patra was leading a mob in the aftermath of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati's murder in August 2008.

Media reported that Patra's bail applications were earlier rejected by two local courts of the district.

The 29-year-old nun was attacked by a mob and forcibly taken to a room where she was allegedly raped and paraded naked.

The incident occurred just two days after the killing of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.