The Gauhati High Court has granted bail to a man accused in the IIT-Guwahati rape case last March, saying both the youth - the accused and the survivor - are the "state's future assets".

A 21-year-old BTech student allegedly made a 19-year-old woman from the same institute drink alcohol forcibly and raped her.

A single-judge bench of Justice Ajit Borthakur, in its March 13 judgment, said there is enough evidence against the accused. "On hearing the learned counsel for both sides with reference to the relevant documents such as FIR, medical report and statements... there is a clear prima facie case as alleged against the accused petitioner," the court order said.

However, the court said, "while dealing with bail applications, the court is not called upon to discuss the merits or demerits of the evidence available against the accused, but some reasons for prima facie concluding while bail is being granted need to be indicated in brief."

The court said that the investigation in the case is completed. The informant/victim girl and the accused are the state's future assets (talented students pursuing technical courses at the II., Guwahati) of 19 to 21 years. They are being hailed from two different states; continuation of detention of the accused in the interest of trial of the case may not be necessary if charges are framed. The only reason for the accused's bail despite the evidence is that he is a "future asset".

The court granted the accused bail for a bond of ₹ 30,000 and on the condition that he cannot leave Kamrup district without informing the Judicial Magistrate.

In a similar case in February 2017, two students of IIT-Guwahati were arrested for allegedly raping three girls of Gauhati University by lacing their drinks with drugs during the institute's annual cultural festival.