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2022 Supreme(Del) 1979

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Rajnish Bhatnagar, J.
Sanjana Rai alias Ankita Rai - Appellant
Versus
State - Respondent
Crl.A. 1085 of 2019
Decided On : 09-05-2022

Headnote:

Criminal Appeal - Trafficking - Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Sections 374(2), 344, 366A, 120B, 376, 506 - ITP Act - Sections 4, 5 - The judgment discusses the appellant's challenge to the impugned judgment and order on sentence. The appellant was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment under various sections. The case involved the trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor girl. The court analyzed the testimonies, medical evidence, and the reliability of the victim's statements. The court also considered the age of the victim and the corroboration of her testimony by other witnesses. The judgment emphasized the Supreme Court's stance on evaluating witness testimony and the impact of minor discrepancies. The court also addressed the delay in filing the FIR and the defective investigation, citing relevant case law. Ultimately, the court found the appellant guilty of trafficking and sexual exploitation, dismissing the appeal.

Fact of the Case:

The case involved the trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor girl, 'RL', who was recovered by the CBI. The appellant challenged the impugned judgment and order on sentence, arguing that she was falsely implicated. The prosecution presented evidence of the victim's age, medical examination, and testimonies of witnesses to establish the appellant's involvement in trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Finding of the Court:

The court found the appellant guilty of trafficking and sexual exploitation, dismissing the appeal. The court emphasized the reliability of the victim's testimony, the corroboration of her statements by other witnesses, and the impact of minor discrepancies. The court also addressed the delay in filing the FIR and the defective investigation, ultimately concluding that the appellant's involvement in trafficking and sexual exploitation was proven.

Issues: The issues revolved around the reliability of the victim's testimony, the impact of minor discrepancies, the delay in filing the FIR, and the defective investigation.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the Supreme Court's stance on evaluating witness testimony, the impact of minor discrepancies, and the relevance of corroboration by other witnesses. The court also cited relevant case law to address the delay in filing the FIR and the impact of a defective investigation on the case.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal, finding the appellant guilty of trafficking and sexual exploitation. The court highlighted the seriousness of the allegations and the impact on the victim's life as reasons for not releasing the appellant on the period already undergone.

JUDGMENT

Rajnish Bhatnagar, J.

CRL.M.A. 36399/2019 (Exemption)

Exemption allowed, subject to just exceptions.

The applications stands disposed of.

CRL.M.A. 36402/2019 (condonation of delay)

This is an application seeking condonation of delay of 261 days in filing the appeal.

For the reasons stated in the application, same is allowed and the delay of 261 days in filing the appeal is condoned.

The application stands disposed of.

CRL.A. 1085/2019

1. By way of the present criminal appeal under Section 374(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (`Cr.P.C.'), the appellant has challenged the impugned judgment dated 15.10.2018 and order on sentence dated 30.10.2018 passed in SC No. 27254/2016 titled as CBI Vs. Anand Vishwa @ Bishwa and Ors., arising out of FIR No. R.C.3(S) 2012-CBI/SC-1/New Delhi, registered at Police Station CBI/SC.I/New Delhi, under Sections 344/366A IPC Sections 4/5 of ITP Act, whereby appellant has been sentenced to undergo as follows:

(i) Ten years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 366A IPC with fine of Rs.5,000/-, in default of payment of fine, to undergo simple imprisonment for two years.

(ii) Seven years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 4 of the ITP Act.

(iii) Seven years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 5 of the ITP Act.

(iv) Seven years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 120B IPC read with Sections 342/366A/376/506 IPC read with Sections 4 and 5 of the ITP Act with fine of Rs.3,000/-, in default of payment of fine, to undergo simple imprisonment for one year.

2. In brief, the facts of the case as per the prosecution are that information was received vide e-mail dated 17.02.2012 from one Sh. Nirnay John, a functionary of an NGO namely, Mankind on Action for Rural Growth (`MARG') based in Darjeeling, West Bengal, regarding missing of 14 years minor girl `RL' (prosecutrix herein) for seeking CBI help on urgent and immediate basis to rescue the said missing girl, who seemed to be in the net of inter-state gang of traffickers. `RL' was recovered on 22.02.2012 by the officials of Special Crime Unit-I of CBI, New Delhi, from the market of Village Munirka, New Delhi, while she was with the appellant-Sanjana Rai @ Ankita Rai. `RL' was thereafter interrogated by the Special Police Officer and she gave a written complaint stating that she is resident of Darjeeling and her father is a tourist guide at local Zoological Park, Darjeeling and her mother deserted her family about thirteen years ago. `RL' asked one `AG' (prosecutrix in another case bearing RC No. 5(S)/2012-SC I/CBI, New Delhi), a married lady of her village for help and the said `AG' recommended the prosecurix to go to Delhi for employment through one of her acquaintance/friend, namely, Anand Vishwa, who was residing in Delhi. On 19.11.2011, prosecutrix reached Siliguri Bus Stand, where Anand Vishwa @ Bishwa met her and took her to Delhi by train and thereafter to a house at Nehru Place, where wife of Anand Vishwa, namely, Babita was already present, who delivered a baby girl on 25.11.2011. According to the prosecutrix accused Anand Vishwa @ Bishwa forcibly established physical relations with her and also subjected her to sexual exploitation at the hands of several persons. `RL' also alleges that when she was subjected to sexual exploitation for the first time, she was made to eat something and after consuming it, she felt giddiness. `RL' further alleges that accused Anand Vishwa took her to the house of his friend i.e. accused/appellant Sanjana at Village Munirka, who was aware that Anand Vishwa was involved in trade of supplying girls for commercial sexual exploitation. According to the prosecutrix, on 29.11.2011, she left the house of accused-Anand Vishwa and started living with the appellant and thereafter, the appellant-Sanjana sent the proxecutrix to the house of co-accused Ajay Vishwa, where she stayed for one month, who also established physical relations with the prosecutix several times. Prosecutrix further stated that she managed to e

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