TMC MP Tapas Paul, whose rape comments courted nationwide outrage, gets bail

Actor-turned-politician and TMC MP Tapas Paul, whose comments in 2014 on rape created nationwide outrage was granted bail by the Orissa High Court, 13 months after his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

On June 14, 2014, Paul courted controversy, by saying that he and his men would rape members of the opposition and their families if anything happened to TMC workers.  

“If any of the members of the Opposition parties touches any TMC girl, any father, or child, I will finish their family. I will let loose my boys; they will rape them,” he was quoted as saying.

Paul who set off for Kolkata by road on Sunday told DNA that he regretted making those comments. “I have not done anything wrong in my entire life. I had said something in 2014, which was very wrong. It was my mistake. I would like to apologise to the entire nation for it.”

He added that he would meet his doctors in Kolkata and if need be would undergo some medical check-ups and about a month he would hopefully get back to acting.  

After a bond of Rs 1 crore was deposited on Saturday and his passport was surrendered at the court, he was released. He spent the night at a friend’s place and on Sunday he had left for Kolkata.