ORAL ORDER

3. In view of the rival contentions urged by the learned counsel for both the parties, the point that would arise for my consideration is:

My answer to the above point is in ‘Affirmative’ for the following:

4. Petitioner was apprehended on 14.07.2022 and since then, he is in judicial custody. Father of the victim lodged the first information against the accused alleging commission of the aforesaid offences. After investigation, the charge sheet came to be filed. The contention of the prosecution is that the victim was aged 17 years at the time of incident. SSLC marks card pertaining to the victim is produced, according to which, the victim was born on 22.11.2005. The incident had occurred on 16.04.2022. It is also the allegation of prosecution that accused No.1 has forcibly married the victim and the marriage was registered.

The informant, the father of the victim is examined as PW.2 and mother of the victim as PW.3. The other witnesses are only the formal witnesses. Prosecution cited as many as 31