Point of Law : Offence of the accused is established beyond reasonable doubt on the basis of legal evidence and material on the record, he cannot be convicted for an offence. There is an initial presumption of innocence of the accused and the prosecution has to bring home the offence against the accused through reliable evidence.

JUDGMENT :

Chandra Dhari Singh, J.

[VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING]

1. The instant criminal appeals under Section 374(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (hereinafter “Cr.P.C.”) have been filed against the impugned judgment dated 16th March 2016 and order on sentence dated 11th April 2016 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Special Fast Track Court, Southeast District, Saket Court, New Delhi wherein the Appellants/Accused persons were convicted and sentenced.

2. Since the criminal appeals bearing number CRL.A.-692/16, CRL.A.-815/16, CRL.A.-892/16, CRL.A.-894/16, CRL.A.-897/16, and CRL.A.-1053/16 have arisen out of the same FIR, pertain to the same set of facts, and have been heard together, therefore the same are being decided by way of this common judgment.

FACTUAL MATRIX

3. The brief facts and circumstances that have led to the instant case are as under:

(i) On 19th May 2012 at about 4:45 P.M., information was received at Police Control Room that a lady had been raped by many persons in a truck near Gas Plant, Kalindi Kunj. On receiving the said information, police team reached on the spot at Agra Canal Road near Indane Gas Plant. The enquiry was made from the Prosecutrix/Complainant and her statement was recorded. In her statement, the Prosecutrix/Complainant stated that she was a rag picker and used to come from Najafgarh to JJ Colony, Madanpur Kahdar for rag-picking.

(ii) On 18th May 2012 at about 9:00 P.M., Prosecutrix/Complainant boarded Gramin Sewa vehicle from Jalebi Chowk, Madanpur Khadar for going to Nehru Place. The Gramin Sewa vehicle was driven by one co-accused namely Lucky, while the other co-accused Tehna was the helper.

(iii) After reaching Nehru Place, all the passengers got down from the Vehicle, Tehna took the Prosecutrix/Complainant near CNG pump, Nehru Place, where the Prosecutrix/Complainant was introduced to Vicky @ Vijay and Satyajeet Biswas @ Satte, who shifted the Prosecutrix/Complainant into a car forcibly by twisting her arms. Vicky @ Vijay drove the car and took her near a cinema hall at Nehru Place where the Prosecutrix/Complainant was allegedly raped in the car by Satyajeet Biswas @ Satte.

(iv) Thereafter, the Prosecutrix/Complainant was taken into a room at JJ Colony, Khadar where co-accused Lucky, Vicky @ Vijay, Yasin Khan @ Tehana and Satyajeet Biswas @ Satte allegedly committed rape upon her. Vicky @ Vijay called the co-accused Uma Shankar and the Amit @Sonu Jaat who also committed rape upon the Prosecutrix/Complainant. The Prosecutrix/Complainant also complained about an act of sodomy committed upon her by Vicky @ Vijay.

(v) Thereafter, the Prosecutrix/Complainant was taken in the Gramin Sewa by three of the co-accused. Near the gas plant, Kalindi Kunj, the vehicle went out of order. The co-accused Vicky @ Vijay again committed rape upon the Prosecutrix/Complainant. All the accused persons left the Prosecutrix/ Complainant there and threatened her to kill if she disclosed about the alleged incident to anyone. The Prosecutrix/Complainant sought help from a truck driver Abhimanyu @ Bantu. However, Abhimanyu @ Bantu took the Prosecutrix/Complainant into the truck cabin and committed rape upon her.

(vi) On the statement of Prosecutrix/Complainant, the instant FIR bearing No. 166/2012 dated 19th May 2012 was registered in Police Station Jaitpur against the Appellants/Accused persons. The Prosecutrix/Complainant was medically examined in AIIMS Hospital, wherein injuries were found on her body and internal parts.

(vii) On 20th May 2012, Vicky @ Vijay, Lucky, Yasin Khan @ Tehana, Satyajeet Biswas @ Satte, Uma Shanker, Abhimanyu @ Bantu and Amit @ Sonu Jaat were arrested upon the identification by the Prosecutrix/Complainant.

4. After Investigation, Chargesheet dated 15th August 2012 was filed before the Court below against all the Appellants/Accused persons and vide order dated 9th October 2012, t