The Rajasthan High Court has stayed the arrest of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler Yash Dayal in a rape case filed by a woman from Jaipur, granting him interim relief while the investigation continues. The decision came after the court heard arguments highlighting procedural concerns and the potential impact of immediate arrest on the cricketer’s professional career.
According to the complaint, the woman alleged that Yash Dayal sexually assaulted her, but the case was registered nearly two years after the alleged incident. During the hearing, Dayal’s counsel emphasized this delay, arguing that such a significant gap raises questions that require careful investigation before any custodial action is taken. The court was told that arresting the player at this stage could irreversibly harm his career, particularly when the matter is still under preliminary investigation.
After considering the submissions, the Rajasthan High Court directed that Yash Dayal should not be arrested for now, allowing the police to continue their inquiry without taking him into custody. The court clarified that the stay on arrest does not amount to a clean chit and that the investigation must proceed strictly in accordance with the law.
This is not the first time the Prayagraj-born cricketer has faced such allegations. Earlier, a woman in Ghaziabad accused Yash Dayal of rape on the pretext of marriage. In that case, the Allahabad High Court had also granted him protection from arrest, citing similar legal considerations.
The complainant in the Ghaziabad case had claimed that she was in a relationship with Dayal for nearly five years. She alleged that he repeatedly promised to marry her, introduced her to his family, and established physical relations on that basis, before later refusing to formalize the relationship. That case is also under judicial scrutiny, with no final conclusion reached so far.
Legal experts note that courts often grant interim protection from arrest in cases where allegations surface after a long delay or where custodial interrogation is not immediately necessary. Such relief is meant to balance the rights of the accused with the need for a fair and thorough investigation.
Yash Dayal, who represents RCB in the Indian Premier League and has played domestic cricket at the national level, continues to remain under legal examination as both cases proceed. While the court orders provide temporary relief, the final outcome will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigations and judicial proceedings.
It is important to note that the allegations against Yash Dayal are yet to be proven, and he remains legally presumed innocent until a competent court delivers a final verdict.