IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AT SHIMLA
Anoop Chitkara, J.
VIKKY — Appellant
Vs.
STATE OF H.P. — Respondent
Cr. MP (M) No. 1437 of 2021
Decided On : 02-08-2021
BAIL - False Implication - S. 164 CrPC, S. 376 IPC, POCSO - [S. 164 CrPC, S. 376 IPC, POCSO] - The court granted bail to the petitioner, subject to strict terms and conditions, considering the victim's contradictory statements about her age and the lack of evidence to support the allegations against the petitioner. The court imposed stringent conditions to ensure the accused's compliance and prevent any influence on the victim or interference with the trial process.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner sought bail on grounds of false implication, citing contradictory statements by the victim and lack of evidence. The State opposed, arguing the victim was a minor and a victim of gang rape.
Finding of the Court:
The court found the victim's contradictory statements about her age and the lack of evidence to support the allegations against the petitioner. It granted bail to the petitioner, subject to strict terms and conditions.
Issues: False implication, victim's age, lack of evidence, granting of bail
Ratio Decidendi: The court considered the victim's contradictory statements about her age, lack of evidence, and the peculiar circumstances of the case in granting bail to the petitioner.
Final Decision: The court granted bail to the petitioner, subject to strict terms and conditions, to ensure compliance and prevent any influence on the victim or interference with the trial process.
JUDGMENT :
Anoop Chitkara, J.
1. The petitioner, incarcerating upon his arrest for alluring and raping a minor girl, has come up before this Court seeking regular bail on the grounds of false implication and further that the victim had earlier levelled similar allegations on two occasions, and in one such case, in her statement recorded on oath during the trial, she resiled from allegations and in her cross-examination also stated that she was more than 18 years of age, and that in her statement under S. 164 CrPC both the victims stated that they do not want to proceed with the case any further.
2. Earlier, the petitioner had filed the following bail petition:
(a) Cr.MP(M) No.877 of 2021, in this Court, decided on 25th May, 2021.
3. Para-8 of the bail petition declares the petitioner having no criminal history.
4. Briefly, the allegations against the petitioner are that:
a) On 28.12.2020, on noticing the missing two minor girls 'S' aged 14 years and Y' aged 16 years, from Child Care Institute Mashobra at Tutikandi, the Officer-in-charge (Superintendent) immediately informed the police of Police Station West (Boileauganj), Shimla.
b) The victims took a lift in a car from the Child Care Institute, and the car driver dropped them at the old Bus Stand, Shimla. Then, they took a phone of someone and called one Lovely, a friend of' Y,' and asked him to take them from Shimla. Lovely refused to do so, but he sent them Rs.500/- on the Google pay account of the person, to which they called. The person who has Google pay account on the said mobile gave Rs.500/-to them.
c) After that, both the victims reached the old bus stand, Shimla, and inquired about the bus to Una from a Lady named Kamla. Since it was night time, no bus was available to Una, and the victims spent the night of 28.12.2020 in the house of Kamla. On the morning of 29.12.2020, Kamla gave Rs.300/- to the victims and the victims left her home at around 9-10 a.m. Later, they took a bus to Bilaspur.
d) While the victims were traveling on the bus, Ankush started talking with 'Y' and later gave her his mobile number and asked her to meet him in Bilaspur. After that, both the minor victims took another bus from Brahampukhar to Bilaspur, and while traveling on the said bus, another boy named Amit met them. They went to Laxmi Narayan Temple in Bilaspur. Later in the day, Amit arranged for a hotel room for the girls and himself. All of them spent the night in the same room where Amit raped 'S' aged 14 years.
e) On 30.12.2020, they checked out from the hotel, and 'Y' called Ankush from the mobile of Amit, and he came to Bilaspur. After that, they all went for a stroll on the bank of the river, where Ankush molested 'Y.' Later in the day, Amit left, and Ankush arranged for a room in the same hotel for the night of 30.12.2020. After that, he left the hotel, telling the victims that he would get some food but did not return. 'Y' tried to call him through someone's phone, but he did not pick up.
f) On 31.12.2020, 'Y' again called him in the morning when Ankush said that he would not come back. Both the victims asked for Rs.500/- from hotel staff to pay for the room's rent. Then, both of them took a bus from Bilaspur to Chandigarh. On reaching Chandigarh, ' S' called one Vicky (petitioner herein) and asked him to come to Chandigarh, to which he asked the victims to go to Ambala. On reaching Ambala, the victims informed Vicky, who came there to pick them up with another boy named Tonny. They picked them up on two different motorcycles. Vicky picked up 'S' and Tonny' Y.' They took them to the room and raped them.
g) The victim stated in her statements recoded under Sections 161 and 164 of Cr.P.C, that in the said room, it was Tonny, who had established sexual relations with her, whereas, Vikky, petitioner herein, had established sexual relations with the victim 'S'. A perusal of the statements of the victim 'S' under Sections 161 and 164 of Cr.P.C also corroborated the same, wherein, she specifically s
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