Judgment :

The facts leading to the appeal are as under:

2. At about 4:00 P.M. on 8th July, 1987 the prosecutrix (PW-1) was alone in her house situated in Village Magrohar, Police Station Rampur Naiken. The appellant, who was known to her, entered the house and after having inflicted three tangi blows on her head and hands, raped her. The prosecutrix also, in defence, snatched the tangi from the appellant and caused several injuries on his head while he was leaving the room. As a result of the injuries suffered, both became unconscious. In the meanwhile, Sampat the husband of the prosecutrix, arrived at the scene and she told him about what had happened. She also called Babulal (PW-2) her son and Shivbalak (PW-3) a distant relative, and they along with several other persons reached the spot. The prosecutrix thereafter accompanied by her husband Sampat, Babulal and the others afore referred lodged the First Information Report (Exhibit P-1) at Police Chowki Khaddi on the same day at about 7.30 p.m. The prosecutrix was also sent for a medical examination which was carried out the next day by Dr. Kalpana Ravi (PW-5), who found three injuries on her and further recorded that as she was a married woman of 42 years, it had not been possible to give a categoric opinion about any recent sexual encounter. The appellant was also examined by Dr. S.B. Khare (PW-6) and his report Ex. P-6/A revealed six injuries, several of them on the head including Injury No. 6, which was grievous as his teeth had been knocked out. On the completion of the investigation a charge for offences punishable under Sections 376, 323 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code was framed. The appellant denied the charge and was brought to trial. During the course of the trial, PWs 2 and 3, Babulal and Shivbalak the son and relative of the prosecutrix who had reached the place of incident, soon after the alleged rape, were declared hostile and they gave a version contrary to what had been deposed to by the prosecutrix. The trial court also found, endorsing the view of Dr. Kalpana Ravi (PW-5), that as the prosecutrix was a married woman, it was impossible to give a categoric opinion about any recent sexual intercourse but relying on the sole testimony, of the prosecutrix, sentenced the appellant to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 10 years under Section 376 of Indian Penal Code and to other terms of imprisonment for the other offences. The High Court dismissed the appeal and confirmed the sentence. The matter is before us after the grant of special leave.

3. The learned counsel for the appellant has raised three arguments during the course of hearing. He has first pointed out that the two primary witnesses, both relatives of the prosecutrix, including Babulal her son had been declared hostile and had not supported the prosecutrix's case and as the story preferred by her was far fetched, it could not be believed. It has also been submitted that the medical evidence which could be a corroborating factor, too was uncertain, as Dr. Kalpana Ravi had stated that the factum of rape could not be ascertained. The learned counsel has finally emphasised that the defence version that the appellant had reached the house of the prosecutrix to recover his cow and in a quarrel between them that followed, both had suffered injuries and that he had thereafter been falsely implicated in a case of rape. To highlight this argument, the learned counsel has referred us to the medical evidence of Dr. S.B. Khare (PW-6).

4. Mr. C.D. Singh, the learned counsel for the respondent State has however submitted that the prosecutrix case was liable to be believed and has relied upon the judgment of this court in in [Motilal vs. State of Madhya Pradesh] 2008 SCC (Vol. 11) 20. It has also been submitted that the evidence clearly showed that the appellant had been arrested from the house of the prosecutrix which proved the factum of rape.

5. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties at length. We find t