MADRAS HIGH COURT
N. Seshasayee, J.
G. Selvam – Petitioner
versus
State, Rep. by Inspector of Police – Respondent
Crl.A.No.623 of 2017 and
Crl. M.P. No.12492 of 2017
Decided on 7.8.2024
Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Sections 376(2)(n), 450 and 506(i) – Rape, house trespass and criminal intimidation – Conviction and sentence – Child born to prosecutrix through appellant – Result of mediation was not a solution for child that was already born, but on the contrary ended up with them having a second child – There are no rules in love and war – Neither prosecution nor conviction separated prosecutrix and appellant – At the end of day, parties are adults and Constitution of country does not make a moralistic statement, wherein grant citizens their life to live and if prosecutrix and appellant choose their way to live on their free will – Prosecution has not been able to establish that there indeed was a crime – There is abuse of judicial process when prosecutrix set a criminal law in motion, perhaps with a false F.I.R. – Appellant/accused acquitted from all charges levelled against him. (Paras 4, 6 and 7)
Result: Criminal Appeal allowed.
JUDGMENT
This appeal is preferred challenging the judgment of the District Mahila Sessions Court, Cuddalore in S.C.No.172 of 2015, under which the learned Sessions Judge has convicted and sentenced the appellant for the offences U/s.376(2) (n), 450 and 506(i) I.P.C.
2. The case of the prosecution commences with Ex.P1, complaint, preferred by the prosecutrix was later examined as PW1 receiving which PW6 registered Ex.P5, F.I.R. The quintessence as disclosed in the F.I.R. is that the appellant / accused is a distant relative of the prosecutrix, that he is living in the neighbourhood, that the prosecutrix has lost her father and was living with her maternal grand mother and on 20.05.2012 the appellant entered the house of the prosecutrix and forced himself upon her and committed rape under intimidation. The prosecutrix was duly sent for medical examination and she was examined by PW4. Besides PW5, the Radiologist, took certain x-rays to ascertain the approximate age of the prosecutrix and has given in Ex.P3, age certificate, as per which the prosecutrix at the relevant time was anywhere between 20 and 22 years. It may have to be stated here that the F.I.R. was registered after the prosecutrix has begotten a child. Hence, PW7, the investigating officer has obtained a D.N.A. test report of the child. The said report was marked during trial as Ex.P8, which confirms that the child born to the prosecutrix was born to her through the appellant. Concluding her investigation, PW7 laid a final report based on which the trial Court framed necessary charges as outlined above.
3. Post trial, on appreciating the evidence before it, the trial Court found the appellant guilty of all the charges laid against him and sentenced as below:—
| Accused | Offence | Sentence imposed |
|
| U/s.450 I.P.C. | R.I. for 5 years and a fine of Rs.1,000/- in default to undergo R.I. for 6 months. |
| Accused | U/s.376(2) (n) I.P.C. | R.I. for 10 years and a fine of Rs.5,000/- in default R.I for 1 year. |
|
| U/s.506(i) I.P.C. | R.I. for 1 year. |
This judgment is now under challenge. Heard both sides.
4. The learned counsel for the appellant made the following submissions:
a) PW1 in her cross examination has disclosed that she has been having physical relationship with the appellant multiple times over a period of time, but she has never raised any objection at any time. Indeed, she did not level any accusation against the appellant till she begotten child. Significantly, the prosecutrix was an adult and she knew or atleast ought to know that what she was engaging in. The trial Court, however, overlooked this part of the cross examination of PW1.
b) When the appeal was preferred, this Court tried to find what best could be done to the child born to the prosecutrix through the appellant, for which purpose it referred the matter to mediation. The result of the mediation was not a solution for the child that was already born, but on the contrary ended up with them having a second child.
5. With considerable amusement, this Court tried to ascertain the last mentioned fact, the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) on instruction by the investigating agency reported that the said statement is true. Indeed, the learned counsel for the appellant even circulated the birth certificate of the 2nd child born to the appellant.
6. There are no rules in love and war and so say the same and this case perhaps stands as a testimony to this statement. Neither prosecution nor conviction separated the prosecutrix and the appellant. At the end of the day, parties are adults and the constitution of the country does not make a moralistic statement, wherein grant citizens their life to live and if the prosecutrix and the appellant choose their way to live on their free will. There is no precious thing the legal system can do except recording its finding that in this instant case, prosecution has not been able to establish that there indeed was a crime. In fact, there is an
Constitution of country does not make a moralistic statement, wherein grant citizens their life to live.
The absence of a victim's testimony does not preclude conviction if medical and corroborative evidence substantiate the crime.
Consent is critical in determining guilt in sexual offence cases, especially when evidence presents substantial doubt.
The main legal point established is the requirement for the prosecution to establish the offence of rape beyond reasonable doubt, emphasizing the need for conclusive evidence and the quality of testi....
Consent obtained under false pretenses of marriage does not absolve the accused of criminal liability for statutory rape.
The evidence of a prosecutrix must be credible and consistent for a conviction in rape cases; contradictions and lack of supporting evidence can lead to acquittal.
Rape—Testimony of prosecutrix is sufficient for conviction of accused, however, same ought to inspire confidence of Court. It ought to be of sterling quality.
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