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2015 Supreme(Kar) 695

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA (DHARWAD BENCH)
G. Narendra, J.
Shantappa – Appellant
Vs.
The State of Karnataka – Respondents
Criminal Petition No. 100670 of 2015
Decided On: 08.06.2015

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For Appellant :T.R. Patil, Advocate
For Respondents: K.S. Patil, High Court Government Pleader

Headnote:CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 - Section 439: [G. Narendar, J] Grant of Bail - Offences punishable under Sections 341 & 376 of I.P.C., - Allegation of Sexual assault on minor girl - FSL report found to be in a printed format - Medical examination and FSL reports not suggesting actual commission of offence - Statements made during examination and in statement of objections found contradictory - Accused also assessed to income-tax - Conditional bail granted.

ORDER :

G. Narendra, J.

1. Heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and also the learned HCGP for the State. The original complainant is the father of the victim one Shekargouda. The case of the complainant is that a week before the alleged incident that the victim and his friend were proceeding to the college, the accused is said to have teased the victim and the village elders had advised him not to carry on in the same vein. It is alleged that, enraged by this the accused is said to have sexually assaulted the deceased who is aged about 16 years.

2. It is stated that on 01.02.2015 at about 3:00 p.m., the deceased was returning home after giving dried cloths to her uncle, the accused came on his motorcycle, followed her, held her by her hand and has dragged her into the shed and committed rape and when the victim screamed the villagers who were nearby gathered around the shed and on seeing the people the accused is said to have run away from the place. The jurisdictional police registered a case in Crime No. 19/2015.

3. It is submitted that the complaint itself is improbable in the way it is narrated. It is alleged that the petitioner has committed the offence in the broad daylight, but there are no eyewitnesses. Consequently, he would rely on the noting by the Doctor in the course of examination of the victim to point out that the case of the prosecution is contrary to the admissions of the victim before the Doctor. He would refer to the noting at Sl. No. 12(f), where to the specific question by the doctor is that she uttered any cries. She has stated that she was scared and did not cry out. The petitioner further points out that the complaint does not disclose that the petitioner was holding any deadly weapons or threatened the victim with any such weapons. That being so, he would submit that there was no impediment for the victim to cry out. As per the complaint, it is alleged that the accused dragged and put cloth in her mouth after taking into the shed. So nothing prevented her for crying out while being dragged into the shed. He would also submit that the statement of the owner of the alleged shed is not recorded and also the statement of the so called villagers, who surrounded the place at the time of incident is not recorded. He would submit that in the light of the above facts, prima-facie it demonstrates that the complaint is made for other extraneous reasons. He submits that the complaint is a result of political rivalry. Therefore, he prays that the petition be allowed as the petitioner is innocent and the earning member of the family and bears good conduct.

4. Per contra, the learned Government Advocate would submit that the petitioner has committed a heinous offence of sexual assault on a minor girl and that the public have seen him while running away from the spot. He would also point out the medical opinion, which states that "rape might have occurred". The medical opinion is placed before this Court. It is observed by the Doctor that her hymen is not intact and tear present and seminal stain was detected in item No. 5. Seminal stain was detected in the skirt of the victim girl. It is disturbing that in the opinion that has been given by an expert, nothing conclusive is found. The expert is called upon to give a conclusive finding and not a ground for raising further question. The opinion is inconclusive. In the above facts and circumstances, the petitioner is entitled for the relief as prayed for. The prosecution is heavily relying on the opinion furnished by the F.S.L. and the Doctor who examined the victim. A perusal of the examination report shows that it is in a printed format and is a Proforma prescribed by the State in the Course of examination of the victim on sexual offence/alleged rape and at Sl. No. 7 there is query, which reads as follows:-

"Patient's statement, whether she is a virgin:

In reply to that the victim is alleged to have stated that she is a virgin and as stated earlier the entries at Sl.











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