IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE Present:

The Hon’ble Justice Ananya Bandyopadhyay C.R.A. 74 of 1996 Pravakar Sardar -Vs-

The State of West Bengal For the Appellant : Mr. Kalyan Kumar Bhattacharyya For the State : Mr. Avishek Sinha Judgment on : 22.05.2026 Ananya Bandyopadhyay, J.:-

1. This appeal is preferred against the judgment and order dated 12.02.1996 passed by the Learned Additional Sessions Judge, 1st Court, Bankura in Sessions Trial No.6(6)1993 arising out of Sessions Case No.1(12)1992 convicting the appellant under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and sentencing him to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and to pay a fine of Rs.2,000/- in default to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 1 year.

2. The prosecution case precisely stated that the victim girl returning from Calcutta by bus on 13.09.91 to her village Gopalpur and alighted at Kotulpur, and proceeded towards her village at Gopalpur. She went to the Tea-stall of one Jatai Koley and inquired for her co-villager of Gopalpur to accompany her being intimidated to advance alone. One Nepal Sardar and Manohar Sardar of Gopalpur advised her to be escorted by the appellant and