After spending 25 days behind bars on charges of raping her live-in girlfriend, athlete Pinki Pramanik was granted bail on Tuesday. The judge virtually exonerated the Asiad gold medallist by saying that preliminary medical reports make it clear Pinki is "not capable of committing rape".

There was much drama both inside the courtroom and outside. Athlete and former CPM MP Jyotirmoyee Sikdar led a huge crowd at the gates, cheering for Pinki although she was not in court. There were at least 30 sportspersons in the gathering. Inside the courtroom, the 30-year-old complainant fainted after hearing the verdict as those in Pinki's favour heaved sighs of relief. Trinamool Congress MP Kabir Suman and actress June Maliah visited Pinki in Dum Dum jail.