JUDGMENT

This Criminal Appeal has been filed by the sole accused, challenging the conviction and sentence imposed upon him, vide judgment dated 09.12.2022 in S.C.No.23 of 2021, on the file of the learned Sessions Judge, Magalir Neethimandram, Fast Track Mahila Court, Villupuram.

2. (i) It is the case of the prosecution that the victim aged about 24 years at the time of the occurrence had a love affair with the appellant who was aged 26 years, for a period of six years before the occurrence; that the victim told the appellant that since they belonged to different religions, it is not possible to get married; that appellant threatened the victim stating that if she did not marry him, he would commit suicide; and that on the promise of marriage, had sexual intercourse with the victim in her house on 17.06.2018 at about 1.30 p.m., and again on 21.06.2018 at about 12.15 p.m.

(ii) On the complaint [Ex.P1] given by the victim on 18.07.2020, a case was registered against the appellant for the offences under Sections 417, 376, 294(b) and 352 of the IPC by the Sub Inspector of Police [PW14]. The FIR was marked as Ex.P10.

(iii) PW15, the Inspector of Police, took up the investigation and after ex