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[Cites 6, Cited by 2]

Delhi High Court

Mintu Kumar ..... Appellant vs State Gnct Of Delhi on 28 August, 2017

Author: Sangita Dhingra Sehgal

Bench: Sangita Dhingra Sehgal

$~R-
*    IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+    CRL.A. 44/2014
                     Judgment reserved on : 22nd August, 2017
                    Judgment pronounced on: 28th August, 2017

       MINTU KUMAR                                         ..... Appellant
                          Through:       Ms. Inderjeet Sandhu, Advocate
                          versus
       STATE GNCT OF DELHI                                 ..... Respondent
                          Through:       Mr. Akshai Malik, APP for the State.


CORAM:
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SANGITA DHINGRA SEHGAL

Crl. M. A. No. 8461/2017 (Exemption)
       Exemption allowed subject to just exceptions.
       Application stands disposed of.
CRL.A. 44/2014
1.     The present appeal has been instituted under Section 374(2) of the
Code of Criminal Procedure against the impugned judgment dated
07.11.2013 and order on sentence dated 11.11.2013 by which the appellant
has been convicted for the offences under Section 328, 366, 368 and 376 of
the Indian Penal Code (hereinafter referred to as „IPC‟). The present
appellant has been sentenced to undergo:-
     (i) rigorous imprisonment for a period of seven years with fine of
          Rs.4,000/-, in default thereof to further undergo rigorous
          imprisonment for a period of one year U/s 328 of IPC.




CRL.A. 44/2014                                                 Page 1 of 18
      (ii)      rigorous imprisonment for a period of seven years and to pay a fine
               of Rs.4,000/- in default thereof to further undergo rigorous
               imprisonment for a period of one year under Section 366 of IPC.
     (iii)     rigorous imprisonment for a period of seven years and to pay a fine
               of Rs.4,000/- in default thereof to further undergo rigorous
               imprisonment for a period of one year under Section 368 of IPC.
     (iv)      rigorous imprisonment for a period of ten years and to pay a fine of
               Rs.10,000/- in default thereof to further undergo rigorous
               imprisonment for a period of two years under Section 376 of IPC.
               All the sentences were directed to run concurrently.
2.          The case of the prosecution as observed by the Trial court is as under:

                  "That on 06.02.2010 prosecutrix (name withheld
                  being a case u/s 376 IPC) came to the Police Station-
                  Bharat Nagar and got recorded her statement to ASI
                  Dev Raj which is to the effect that, she lives at D-629,
                  Wazirpur J.J. Colony, Delhi with her mother in a
                  rented house (Kiraye Ka Makaan) and she is the
                  permanent R/o Village Harihar Bainsa, PS Banns
                  Gaon, Distt. Gorakhpur, U.P. She studies in twelfth
                  class (Barvi Kaksha). In the room adjacent to her
                  rented room, one boy named Mintu lives. Who used to
                  look at her while she going and coming and used to
                  try to strike a conversation with her (Jo Mujhe Aate
                  jate Dekhta Rehta Tha Aur Mere Sath Baat Cheet
                  Karne Ki Koshish Karta Tha). On 02.02.2010, at
                  about 12:00 noon she was basking in the sun (Dhoop
                  Sek Rahi Thi), while sting in the Tikona Park 115 bus
                  stop, Wazirpur J.J. Colony, then Mintu with one glass
                  of juice after taking the same from the juice rehri
                  which was passing, came there and asked her to drink
                  the juice, however, she refused to drink the juice but
                  Mintu after too much insisting her (Zid kar ke)



CRL.A. 44/2014                                                        Page 2 of 18
                  forcibly made her to drink the juice and thereafter she
                 came under the influence of intoxication (Nasha ho
                 gaya) and Mintu took her in an unknown jhuggi. When
                 she regained consciousness, Mintu was found lying
                 with her (leta hua tha). From 02.02.2010 to
                 04.02.2010 Mintu forcibly established physical
                 relations with her without her consent. On 04.02.2010
                 at about 6.30 p.m. Mintu had left the jhuggi for
                 smoking cigarette without closing the door of the
                 jhuggi and she finding an opportunity came out from
                 the jhuggi. Prior to this Mintu was not allowing to her
                 go out from the jhuggi. After coming out from the
                 jhuggi she reached at Bus Stop of (Bus No.) 115 and
                 there, after taking mobile from one old gentleman
                 (Bujurg) she called Nisha Aunty at Bus Stop of (Bus
                 No.) 115 and from here Nisha Aunty took her
                 (Prosecutrix) to her Nisha Aunty) house. Nisha Aunty
                 called her (prosecutrix) mother at her house. On that
                 day she (Prosecutrix) did not tell anything to her
                 mother and Nisha Aunty. On 05.02.2010 she
                 (prosecutrix) told about the entire incident to her
                 mother and Nisha Aunty. Because of public shyness
                 (lok laaj ke karan), they did not come to lodge the
                 report with the police on 05.02.2010. That today, on
                 06.02.2010 she alongwith her mother and Nisha Aunty
                 has come to the police station and has told about the
                 incident which had taken place with her, (Apni Aap
                 Beeti Aapko Batlai) on which her statement has been
                 recorded....."
3.     After committal of the case, the Court of Sessions framed charges
       under Section 328/366/368/376 IPC against the appellant. After the
       prosecution examined 17 witnesses, statement of the appellant was
       recorded wherein he took the plea of false implication and stated that
       prosecutrix had been sending love letters to him.




CRL.A. 44/2014                                                    Page 3 of 18
 4.     Ms. Inderjeet Sandhu, learned counsel for the appellant argued that
       the foundation of the entire prosecution story stands demolished in
       view of the testimony of PW-11 Smt. Kiran; that the prosecutrix being
       a major of 18 years, which is duly proved as per the school records
       voluntarily accompanied the appellant; that the Trial Court erred in
       convicting the appellant on the basis of sole testimony of prosecutrix
       which is shaky, unreliable and not worthy of credence; that as per the
       history given by the prosecutrix in the MLC, she has admitted that she
       eloped and had an affair with the appellant; that there is no evidence
       of intoxication and therefore her testimony is highly improbable; that
       no missing complaint was lodged by the mother of the prosecutrix
       despite the fact that the prosecutrix was missing for 3 days. To
       substantiate her arguments, learned counsel for the appellant relied
       upon the judgment of Rai Sandeep @ Deepu Vs State reported in
       2012 (131) DRJ 3 (SC) to show that the solitary version of the chief
       examination of the prosecutrix cannot be taken as gospel truth,
       Narender Kumar Vs State reported in 2012 (7) SCC 171 to show that
       if the court finds it difficult to accept the version of the prosecutrix on
       its face value, it may search for evidence, direct or substantial which
       may lend assurance to her testimony, Tameezuddin @ Tammu
       reported in 2009 (15) SCC 566 to demonstrate that if the story of the
       prosecutrix is improbable and belies logic it need not be accepted.
5.     On the other hand, Mr. Akshai Malik, learned APP for the State
       vehemently opposes these arguments and supports the judgment of
       conviction and order of sentence passed by the trial Court and
       submitted that it is a well settled law that the sole testimony of


CRL.A. 44/2014                                                   Page 4 of 18
        the prosecutrix can be acted upon and made the basis of conviction
       without being corroborated in material particulars and that the appeal
       lacks merit and is liable to dismissed.
6.     I have considered the rival submissions made by learned counsel for
       the parties and perused the record.
7.     Before proceeding to examine the impugned judgment of the court
       below and facts of the case, it is obligatory to refer to the sole
       testimony of the prosecutrix.
Testimony of the prosecutrix
8.     PW1 prosecutrix in her Examination in Chief deposed as under:
                 "On 02.02.2010, at about 12 noon, I was sitting in
                 Tikona Park, behind bus stop of bus no.115. I was
                 living in my village in District Gorakh Pur. I had
                 come to Delhi for coaching and for my treatment as I
                 had developed Jaundice. Mintu, accused present in
                 the court resides in our neighbourhood. He came in
                 the park. He started talking to me. He offered me juice
                 which I refused but he again insisted to take the juice.
                 So I took the juice offered by him. I started feeling
                 dizziness. I my unconscious state, he took me to some
                 jhuggi but I do not know in which jhuggi he took me.
                 When I regained consciousness, I found that the zip of
                 my pant was unzipped and he was lying along with
                 me. When I objected to it, he slapped me and he
                 started fiddling with my body and then he forcibly
                 established physical relations with me. For three days
                 he kept me confined in that jhuggi and he used to go
                 himself to bring food for me and while leaving the
                 jhuggi he used to lock it from outside. He used to
                 accompany me for attending the call of nature and did
                 not allow me to talk to anybody around.




CRL.A. 44/2014                                                    Page 5 of 18
                         On 04.02.2010 at about 6.30 or 7 p.m. he went
                 to buy a cigarette leaving the door of the jhuggi
                 opened. Taking advantage of the situation I ran away
                 from that jhuggi. I was weeping at the bus stand of bus
                 no.115. There I requested an old man to use his
                 mobile and telephoned Nisha Aunty from his mobile
                 phone. I told Nisha Aunty that I was standing at bus
                 stand of bus no.115 and requested her to take me from
                 that place. Nisha Aunty came to the bus stand and
                 took me to her own house and from there she
                 telephoned my mother. On that day I did not disclose
                 anything to anybody including my mother and Nisha
                 aunty. On 04.02.2010 my mother came to the house of
                 Nisha aunty but did not take me back home and
                 requested Nisha aunty to keep me in her house on that
                 night. Next day on 05.02.2010 when husband of Nisha
                 aunty left for his office, I disclosed everything to Nisha
                 aunty as well as to my mother. Thereafter also we
                 remained silent due to fear of the society.
                        On 06.02.2010 the family members of Mintu
                 started abusing my mother. When my mother
                 requested them not to misbehave Mintu extended
                 threats to us. He also said that if any police complaint
                 will be lodged he would kill me and my mother.
                 Thereafter we went to police station and lodged the
                 report. My complaint bears my signature at point A.
                 Complaint is Ex.PW1/A. I was got medically examined
                 from BJRM Hospital. My clothes were not seized by
                 the police or by the hospital authorities because I had
                 washed the clothes which I was wearing. Accused was
                 arrested from his house in my presence on
                 07.02.2010. His arrest memo is Ex.PW1/B which
                 bears my signature at point A. Personal search memo
                 of accused is Ex.PW-1/C which bears my signature at
                 point A. I was student of Intermediate, Inter College,
                 Malhan Par, Gorakh Pur...."




CRL.A. 44/2014                                                      Page 6 of 18
 9.     During her cross examination, she denied the following
       suggestions put to her by the defence counsel:
           That the appellant came to tikona park to talk to her;
           that when she had regained consciousness, her pant was
                 unzipped and that the appellant was lying by her side;
           that the appellant had slapped her and started fiddling with
                 her body;
           that the appellant used to go out to take food for her;
           that the appellant used to accompany her for attending the
                 call of nature;
           that the appellant did not allow her to talk to anybody while
                 attending the call of nature;
           that her mother came to her aunt‟s house on 04.02.2010 and
                 requested the aunt to keep her on that night;
           that the next day when the aunt‟s husband left for office, she
                 disclosed to her aunt about the incident of rape;
           that on 06.02.2010 the appellant started threatening her
                 mother.
10.    Indisputably, it is a well settled proposition of law that
       the sole testimony of the prosecutrix can be made the basis of
       conviction          without   being       corroborated.   Infact       even
       doctor's evidence is not required to record a finding of guilt of the
       offender in a rape case when the evidence of the prosecutrix is
       found wholly reliable. However, assistance can be had from the
       doctor's evidence when the evidence of the prosecutrix is found



CRL.A. 44/2014                                                       Page 7 of 18
        somewhat shaky. There is no legal compulsion to look for
       corroboration of the testimony of the prosecutrix unless there are
       compelling reasons which necessitate the Court for corroboration
       of her statement.      In the instant case, as there are many
       improvements, the testimony of the prosecutrix appears to be
       shaky, thus this court deems it appropriate to rummage through the
       medical evidence, FSL report and other relevant testimonies placed
       on record.
MLC
11.    PW4 Dr. Ekta Kale had testified in court that there was alleged
       history of sexual assault. On examination, the patient was found in
       the conscious state. There was no injury mark over the whole body
       and that there was no injury mark over private part. There was
       slight white discharge present and hymen was perforated. No scar
       mark was present (old or habitual) and Index finger admitted
       easily.
12.    In view of the above, it is abundantly clear that the testimony of the
       prosecutrix does not find support from the medical evidence on
       record and no definite opinion can be given regarding rape. Infact,
       it is revealed in the history given by the prosecutrix herself that she
       had intercourse with the neighbor since two months and she ran
       away with the boy on 02.02.2010 and returned on 04.02.2010 and
       later took a bath and changed her clothes. Moreover, the result of
       analysis as per the FSL report shows that blood and semen could
       not be detected on the relevant exhibits and thereby the story of the
       prosecution is also falsified by the FSL report.


CRL.A. 44/2014                                                   Page 8 of 18
 Other relevant testimonies
13.    PW5 Smt. Jamurti Devi, mother of the prosecutrix to whom the
       facts of the incident were narrated by the victim deposed as under:
                 "Earlier I used to reside at house No. 629/630, JJ
                 Colony, Wazir Pur. My husband expired in the year
                 2008. Prosecutrix Geeta is my daughter. My daughter
                 used to live in the village in District Gorakhpur. She
                 came to me in Delhi this year from my native place.
                 On 2.2.2010, my daughter was ill. She went to park
                 near the bus stop of bus route No. 115. She did not
                 returned to the home, then I traced to locate her in the
                 locality. On 4.2.10 I received a telephone call from
                 Nisha that my daughter was at the bus stop of bus
                 route no. 115. Nisha has brought my daughter from
                 the bus stop to her house. Thereafter, I went to the
                 house of Nisha. My daughter was also present there.
                 My daughter was weeping. My friend Nisha asked me
                 to not to take my daughter, so my daughter remained
                 with her for one day. I brought my daughter to my
                 home on 5.2.2010. Then my daughter narrated me the
                 story regarding the incident. Then accussed who used
                 to olive near my house along with his brother came to
                 me and started fighting with us. My daughter had told
                 me that accused had intoxicated her and had taken
                 her somewhere and also threatened her to kill and had
                 committed rape upon her. She further told me that she
                 came out of the house when accused had gone out to
                 purchase a cigratee. We went to the police station on
                 6.2.2010 and the case was registered on the statement
                 after her medical examination.

14.    PW12 Smt. Nisha, the aunt to whom the prosecutrix claimed to
       have narrated the facts of the incident deposed as under:
                 "I know Jmurti Devi and her family from my age of
                 14/15 years. On 04/02/2010, at about 7:15 pm, I



CRL.A. 44/2014                                                    Page 9 of 18
                  received a phone call from Geeta on my mobile phone
                 and she asked me to come at the bus stand of bus
                 route no. 115 and to take her along with me. I called
                 to Jmurti Devi, mother of Geeta, about her phone call.
                 I went to the bus stand and brought the said Geeta at
                 my house where Smt. Jmurti Devi was also present. I
                 offered the prosecutrix tea etc. Jmurti Devi asked me
                 to keep the said Geeta at my house for one or two
                 days. At that time, Geeta was scared and nervous. On
                 04/02/2010, she did not tell anything and she slept
                 after having her dinner. In the afternoon of
                 05/02/2010, Geeta told me that she was with accused
                 Mintu in the same locality where accused Mintu had
                 raped her. I informed this fact to the mother of
                 prosecutrix. On the next day, I was taken by Smt.
                 Jmurti Devi to talk to Mintu in a park in the area
                 where accused Mintu was not at all scared. Rather, he
                 was showing his anger. Thereafter, in the evening, I
                 along with prosecutrix and Smt. Jmurti Devi went to
                 the police station and then the report was lodged. In
                 the night, Geeta was medically examined in a hospital
                 at Jahangir Puri. I narrated the entire facts stated
                 above by me to the police also who recorded my
                 statement."

15.    PW10 Sh. Om Prakash who rented out the room to the prosecutrix
       deposed as under:
                 "I am also having my another house at D 629-630,
                 J.J. Colony, Wazirpur. I had rented out one room at
                 the first floor of the house to Geeta, her mother and
                 brother on a monthly rent of Rs.600/- p.m. They were
                 residing there for the last two and half years. Accused
                 Mintu present in court today was also my tenant in the
                 same house on another room on the same 1st floor. He
                 was residing there with his brother. He was also my
                 tenant for the last two and half years...."




CRL.A. 44/2014                                                    Page 10 of 18
 16.    At this juncture, it is significant to reproduce the testimony of PW-
       11 Smt. Kiran who claims that the appellant and the prosecutrix
       had come to her house on 02.02.2010.               She deposed in her
       Examination in Chief as under:

                 " The above mentioned house is owned by my
                 husband. It is two storey constructed. On the night of
                 02/02/10, one boy namely Mintu Kumar, who is
                 present in the court today (witness has correctly
                 identified the accused) along with one girl namely
                 Geeta came to me and they asked for one room on
                 rent. I told him the rate of rent as Rs. 700/- per month,
                 out of which he gave Rs.200/- as advance and the rest
                 of the amount was to be paid by him after 7th after
                 getting his salary. The condition of the girl was
                 normal. After two days i.e. in the evening of 04/02/10,
                 the accused along with the said girl left my house in
                 my absence even without informing me. Thereafter,
                 they never visited my house. Police came and asked
                 about the stay of the accused and the prosecutrix at
                 my house and I narrated the above mentioned facts to
                 the police also."
17.    This witness in her cross examination stated as under:

                 "Rupees 200/- were handed over to me by the girl. No
                 toilet is constructed in my house. We use public toilet
                 which is situated at some distance from my house. The
                 said girl also used to go the said public toilets. It is
                 correct that we have to go from main road to the said
                 public toilets from our house and there is no other
                 way. The girl used to go alone to the toilets. Accused
                 went to his work during his stay in my house. The girl
                 used to talk to the neighbours. The girl did not make
                 any complaint either to me or to any other neighbours
                 that she was forcibly brought by the accused. I asked
                 about the relationship from them to which they replied


CRL.A. 44/2014                                                     Page 11 of 18
                  that they were husband and wife and belonging to the
                 Muslim community, as I did not see any signs of
                 Hindu married woman like mangal sutra or
                 vermellion on her forehead. Police obtained my
                 signature on one paper. My statement was recorded
                 by the police on 07/02/2010. The accused and
                 prosecutrix lived happily for two days in my house. It
                 is wrong to suggest that I am before the court at the
                 instance of police."
18.    From the perusal of the testimonies, it is revealed that PW10 who
       is the landlord, rented out one room of the first floor of his house
       to the prosecutrix, her mother and brother on a monthly rent of
       Rs.600/- p.m. who were residing there for the last two and half
       years. The appellant was also a tenant in the same house on another
       room on the same first floor for two and a half years. Thus, it
       appears that the prosecutrix and the appellant were acquainted to
       each other.
19.    Moreover, PW11 stated that on 02.02.2010 the appellant went
       along with the prosecutrix to PW11 to ask for one room on rent.
       The condition of the prosecutrix was normal at the time they met
       PW11. After two days i.e. in the evening of 04.02.2010, the
       appellant along with the prosecutrix left her house without even
       informing PW11. Further, it shows that PW1 used to go alone to
       the toilets which was outside the house and she used to talk to the
       neighbours. Appellant went to his work during his stay in this
       house. The girl did not make any complaint either to PW11 or to
       any other neighbours that she was forcibly brought by the
       appellant. When PW-11 asked about the relationship from the



CRL.A. 44/2014                                                   Page 12 of 18
        prosecutrix and appellant, they claimed to be husband and wife. It
       emerges from above that the prosecutrix infact knew the appellant
       very well and that the prosecutrix accompanied the appellant
       voluntarily from the very beginning. The history stated by the
       prosecutrix in the MLC reveals that she ran away with a boy cannot
       be lost sight of.
20.    Also, it is to be noted that so far as registering of an FIR was
       concerned, the prosecutrix and the mother were prompt and
       fearless, however, the mother of the prosecutrix at the time when
       her daughter went missing made no effort to file a missing
       complaint. It has also been revealed from the testimony of PW-11
       that the prosecutrix used to use the public toilets which is outside
       her house and she used to go alone to the toilets. Had the
       prosecutrix been taken forcibly by the appellant to the jhuggi, she
       would have raised an alarm before all the neighbours or would
       have availed of this opportunity to run away from the clutches of
       the appellant.
21.    Moreover, when the victim managed to run away from the jhuggi
       at about 6.30 p.m or 7.00 p.m. when the appellant went to buy a
       cigarette leaving the door of the jhuggi opened, the first person she
       called to inform was her aunt (Nisha) and not the mother who took
       her from the bus stop. On that day, she (Prosecutrix) did not tell
       anything to her mother and Nisha aunty. On 05.02.2010, she
       (prosecutrix) narrated the entire incident to her mother and Nisha
       aunty. As per PW12, the mother of the prosecutrix had asked her to
       keep the prosecutrix at her house for one or two days. But, as per


CRL.A. 44/2014                                                 Page 13 of 18
        PW10 she went to the house of PW11 (Nisha) and her daughter
       was weeping. Her friend Nisha (PW11) had asked her not to take
       her daughter, so her daughter remained with her for one day.
22.    A careful analysis of all the testimonies of the prosecution
       witnesses shows that the story of the prosecution stands
       demolished by the testimony of their own prosecution witness
       PW11. Moreover, the sole testimony of the prosecutrix is also
       contradicted by the MLC report.
23.    In this regard, it is important to mention the case of Rai Sandeep @
       Deepu Vs. State reported in (2012) 8 SCC 21, wherein it has been
       held that :
                 "15. In our considered opinion, the 'sterling witness'
                 should be of a very high quality and caliber whose
                 version should, therefore, be unassailable. The Court
                 considering the version of such witness should be in a
                 position to accept it for its face value without any
                 hesitation. To test the quality of such a witness, the
                 status of the witness would be immaterial and what
                 would be relevant is the truthfulness of the statement
                 made by such a witness. What would be more relevant
                 would be the consistency of the statement right from
                 the starting point till the end, namely, at the time when
                 the witness makes the initial statement and ultimately
                 before the Court. It should be natural and consistent
                 with the case of the prosecution qua the accused.
                 There should not be any prevarication in the version
                 of such a witness. The witness should be in a position
                 to withstand the cross-examination of any length and
                 strenuous it may be and under no circumstance should
                 give room for any doubt as to the factum of the
                 occurrence, the persons involved, as well as, the
                 sequence of it. Such a version should have co-relation
                 with each and everyone of other supporting material


CRL.A. 44/2014                                                     Page 14 of 18
                  such as the recoveries made, the weapons used, the
                 manner of offence committed, the scientific evidence
                 and the expert opinion. The said version should
                 consistently match with the version of every other
                 witness. It can even be stated that it should be akin to
                 the test applied in the case of circumstantial evidence
                 where there should not be any missing link in the
                 chain of circumstances to hold the accused guilty of
                 the offence alleged against him. Only if the version of
                 such a witness qualifies the above test as well as all
                 other similar such tests to be applied, it can be held
                 that such a witness can be called as a 'sterling witness'
                 whose version can be accepted by the Court without
                 any corroboration and based on which the guilty can
                 be punished. To be more precise, the version of the
                 said witness on the core spectrum of the crime should
                 remain intact while all other attendant materials,
                 namely, oral, documentary and material objects should
                 match the said version in material particulars in order
                 to enable the Court trying the offence to rely on the
                 core version to sieve the other supporting materials for
                 holding the offender guilty of the charge alleged."

24.    In Tameezuddin Vs. State (NCT of Delhi) reported in (2009) 15
       SCC 566, the Apex Court held as under:
                 "9. It is true that in a case of rape the evidence of
                 the prosecutrix must be given predominant
                 consideration, but to hold that this evidence has to be
                 accepted even if the story is improbable and belies
                 logic, would be doing violence to the very principles
                 which govern the appreciation of evidence in a
                 criminal matter. We are of the opinion that story is
                 indeed improbable."




CRL.A. 44/2014                                                     Page 15 of 18
 24.    In Dilip and Anr. v. State of M.P : AIR 2001 SC 3049, the Apex
       Court held as under:

                 "The gang rape is alleged to have been committed at
                 about 2 p.m., in her own house, situated in a
                 populated village by the side of the main road where
                 people were moving on account of Holi festival. The
                 prosecutrix did raise hue and cry to the extent she
                 could and yet none was attracted to the place of the
                 incident. The prosecutrix is said to have sustained
                 injuries, also bladed from her private parts staining
                 her body as also the clothes which she was wearing.
                 This part of the story, is not only not corroborated by
                 the medical evidence, is rather belied thereby. The
                 presence of blood-stains is not confirmed by forensic
                 science laboratory or by the doctors who examined
                 the prosecutrix. Her own maternal aunt to whom the
                 story of sexual assault has been narrated by the
                 prosecutrix gives a version which does not tally with
                 the version of the prosecutrix as given in the Court.
                 The Court is finding it difficult to accept the
                 truthfulness of the version of the prosecutrix that
                 any sexual assault as alleged was committed on her
                 in view of the fact that her narration of the incident
                 becomes basically infirm on account of being
                 contradicted by the statement of her own aunt and
                 medical evidence and the report of forensic science
                 laboratory. Therefore, it is difficult to hold the
                 prosecutrix in the case as one on whose testimony an
                 implicit reliance can be placed."

25.    Undoubtedly, minor contradictions or insignificant discrepancies
       should not be a ground for throwing out an otherwise reliable
       prosecution case. A prosecutrix complaining of having been a



CRL.A. 44/2014                                                    Page 16 of 18
        victim of the offence of rape is not an accomplice after the crime.
       Her testimony has to be appreciated on the principle of
       probabilities just as the testimony of any other witness; a high
       degree of probability having been shown to exist in view of the
       subject matter being a criminal charge. However, if the Court finds
       it difficult to accept the version of the prosecutrix on its face value,
       it may search for evidence, direct or substantial, which may lend
       assurance to her testimony.
26.    Though, there is no bar in convicting the appellant on the basis of
       sole testimony of the prosecutrix, but the same can only be done, if
       it inspires confidence and appears to be natural and truthful. If
       there     are    infirmities   present   in   the sole testimony      of
       the prosecutrix and she was contradicted by other evidence such as
       the medical evidence, testimony of PW11 and FSL report, a
       conviction      would not be possible on such testimony of
       the prosecutrix. In the instant case, the testimony of the prosecutrix
       is not natural and consistent with the case of the prosecution. There
       is no medical evidence to support the offence of rape. The case of
       the prosecution appears to be highly improbable and undoubtful in
       the light of the evidence and circumstances of the present case.
27.    In the result, the appeal is allowed.
28.    The conviction and sentence awarded to the appellant is set aside
       and he is acquitted of the charges framed against him.
29.    The jail superintendent is directed to release the appellant forthwith
       if not required in any other case.




CRL.A. 44/2014                                                   Page 17 of 18
 Crl. M (Bail) 952/2017
       In view of the order passed in the appeal, the present application is
rendered infructuous.
       Application stands disposed of.




                                     SANGITA DHINGRA SEHGAL, J.

th AUGUST 28 , 2017 gr// CRL.A. 44/2014 Page 18 of 18