1. This criminal appeal arises out of the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 11.10.2021 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Dongargarh, District Rajnandgaon in Special Criminal Case No.04/2019, whereby the appellant has been convicted for offence under S.376(3) of the IPC and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life till natural death and fine of Rs.500/-, in default of payment of fine to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for one month.

2. The prosecution story, in brief, is that complainant Jyoti Gupta who is working as a member in NGO of Railway Child Help Line, Raipur, submitted a written complaint (Ex.P - 13) to the Station House Officer, Police Station Mana Camp, Raipur that the victim (PW - 6) (name and village omitted) is a resident of Police Station Dongargarh. The girl was physically abused by the father of the victim on 19.02.2019, due to which the girl came to Raipur from her home, who was received by Railway Child Line, Raipur from Railway Station Raipur in a guardianless condition. The girl was counseled and presented before the Child Welfare Committee on 01.03.2019, in which an order was received from the Child Welfare Committee to r