The Delhi High Court has denied anticipatory bail to a man accused of raping a 17-year old girl, while rejecting his contention that the victim and accused were friends, saying friendship does not give licence to rape the victim repeatedly, confine her or beat her mercilessly.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the application of the man in the case lodged under the Prevention of Child from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, noting that the accused had still not joined the investigation, despite his anticipatory bail plea having been either withdrawn or rejected on four occasions in the past.

"The contention on behalf of the applicant that the applicant and the complainant were friends and therefore, it could be a case of consensual relationship, cannot be accepted by this court. Even if t

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