SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2018 Supreme(Raj) 1070

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN, JAIPUR BENCH
PANKAJ BHANDARI, J.
Pradeep Kumar Meena - Appellant
Vs.
State of Rajasthan - Respondent
Criminal Revision No. 1527 of 2018
Decided On : 14-09-2018

Advocates Appeared:
Anil Kumar Upman, Adv., Rajveer Singh, Adv., Sudesh Saini, Adv.

Headnote:

India Penal Code – 1860 - Section 376(2) and 201 – Criminal Procedure Code 1973 – Quashed – Accused - Charge-sheet – Evidence - It is contended by counsel for petitioner that petitioner was having an knowing since Prosecutrix in her statement recorded under Section has stated that she was continuously in telephonic conversation with petitioner and she had sexual relationship with petitioner wrong allegations has been made that petitioner has made video clipping and on basis of that video clipping he sexually exploited prosecutrix – Held, No video clipping was recovered and there is no allegation that petitioner has destroyed video clipping - Allegation that prosecutrix was subjected to rape on threat of posting video clipping in public domain cannot be believed - Delay in lodging is yet another factor which shows that prosecutrix was having consensual relationship and continued to share house with petitioner even after she was engaged - Thus offence as alleged is not made out against petitioner and there is no sufficient ground for proceedings against accused - Order passed by Court below deserves to be set aside – Order accordingly

JUDGMENT

Pankaj Bhandari, J.

Petitioner has preferred this revision petition aggrieved by order dated 08.08.2018 passed by Additional Sessions Judge Women Atrocities Cases, No.1, Jaipur Metropolitan, Jaipur whereby petitioner has been charged for the offence under Section 376(2)(N) IPC.

2. It is contended by counsel for the petitioner that petitioner was having an knowing the prosecutrix since 2013. Prosecutrix in her statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. has stated that she was continuously in telephonic conversation with the petitioner and she had sexual relationship with the petitioner, wrong allegations has been made that petitioner has made video clipping and on the basis of that video clipping he sexually exploited the prosecutrix.

3. It is contended by counsel for the petitioner that even after prosecutrix got engaged she continued to share the house with petitioner and continued the relationship.

4. It is also contended that there is inordinate delay of more than one year in lodging the FIR. It is also contended that no video clipping has been recovered by the police and no charge has been framed under Section 201 of IPC.

5. Counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance on "Dilawar Balu Kurana Vs. State of Maharashtra, (2002) 2 SCC 135" and "Union of India Vs. Prafulla Kumar Samal and Anr, (1979) 3 SCC 4", wherein the Apex Court has dealt with Section 227 of Cr.P.C. and has formulated certain principles. It is held by the Apex Court that the Judge while considering the question of framing of charges under the said section has the undoubted power to sift and weigh the evidence for the limited purpose of finding out whether or not a prima facie case against the accused has been made out. If grave suspicion against the accused is disclosed, the Court will be fully justified in framing the charge however, if two views are equally possible and the judge is satisfied that the evidence produced before him while giving rise to some suspicion but not grave suspicion against the accused, he will be fully within his right to discharge the accused Court however held that for determining prima facie case would naturally depend upon the facts of each case and it is difficult to lay down a rule of universal application. The Court also held that the Court cannot act merely as a post office or a mouthpiece of the prosecution and has to consider the broad probabilities of the case, the total effect of the evidence and the documents produced before the Court, any basic infirmities appearing in the case and so on, however judge is not required to make roving enquiry into the matter and weigh the evidence as if he was conducting the trial.

6. Learned Public Prosecutor has opposed the revision petition. His contention is that prosecutirx in her statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C. has specifically alleged that she was subjected to rape on the pretext of posting the video clipping on public domain. Learned Public Prosecutor has placed reliance on "Chitresh Kumar Chopra Vs. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi), (2010) AIR SC 1446", wherein the Apex Court has held that for framing of charge Court has to consider the material only with a view to find out if there is ground for presuming that the accused has committed an offence and not for the purpose of arriving at the conclusion that it is not likely to lead to a conviction.

7. I have considered the contentions.

8. Prosecutrix as per her own version in the FIR stated that accused was known to the petitioner from 2013. However, in her statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. she has stated that she was knowing to the petitioner from 2011. In her statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. she has stated that sexual relationship developed between the petitioner and prosecutrix and during the period of their relationship on many occasion she had sexual relations with the petitioner.

9. Prosecutrix has lodged this FIR after a delay of more than one year. She had stayed with the petitioner in the same


Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

SupremeToday

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top