Kendrapara, May 2: Balram Bhoi, 22, an undertrial prisoner, who was accused of raping an 18-year-old girl this January, has married the girl at the district jail.

The accused was released on bail today.

Yesterday, the marriage was solemnised, according to the Hindu rituals, after the special judge court here agreed and accepted the plea of the duo for tying the knot.

The Kendrapara sessions judge later granted bail to the accused. The culprit is facing trial for the offence under Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape) and 363 (kidnapping) and has been behind bars since March 3.

"The marriage was solemnised in presence of Bhoi's parents, jail officials, lawyers and civil activists. The marriage was held under the directions of the court. Legal formalities were strictly followed. The state prison administration allowed us to organise the wedding on the jail premises. The official records were later furnished to the court through the lawyers of both the accused and the victim," said jail superintendent Biren Sahu.

The police said Bhoi had been repentant about his crime since his arrest. He expressed his desire to marry the girl. This was conveyed to the victim through her lawyer.

"The counsellors of the short-stay home, where the victim was lodged following the court order, also advised her not to reject the marriage proposal. The victim gave her consent. Both the accused and the victim moved the court, expressing their desire to marry each other. The court ordered the jail authorities to arrange the wedding," said Bhoi's counsel Duryodhan Sahu.

The jail inmates also took part in the ceremony. They were elated as such an event was taking place for the first time in the local jail. They lined up to garland the guests. The wedding was different than usual and the ceremony was minimal, said a jail official.

After submission of the marriage certificate, a pledge will be made to the court to drop the case against the accused, said Sahu.