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Delhi High Court

Bimla vs State Of Nct Of Delhi & Ors. on 29 May, 2015

Author: G. S. Sistani

Bench: G.S.Sistani, Sangita Dhingra Sehgal

*        IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+        Crl.A.937/2013

%                                     Judgment pronounced on May 29, 2015


         BIMLA                                          ..... APPELLANT
                       Through:       Mr.I.D.Gill, Mr.Kamlesh Kumar Mishra
                                      and Ms.Kezhososano Kikhi, Advs.

                             versus
         STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.        ..... RESPONDENTS
                  Through: Mr.Sunil Sharma, APP for the State\
                           Mr.Deepak Mehar Singh, Advocate for
                           respondent no.2.
                           Mr.Ajai Verma, Mr.Gaurav Bhattacharya,
                           Mr.S.K.Dwivedi and Ms.Neha Singh,
                           Advocates for respondents 3 to 5.

CORAM:
   HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G.S.SISTANI
   HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SANGITA DHINGRA SEHGAL

G. S. SISTANI, J

    1.   Present appeal has been filed under section 372 read with section 482
         Cr.P.C     against the judgment dated 16th July, 2012 passed by the
         ld.Additional   Sessions      Judge   in   FIR   registered    under         section
         365/376(2)(g)/120B IPC on a complaint filed by the victim who was
         kidnapped and gang raped. The ld.Additional Sessions Judge acquitted all
         the five accused persons. The present appeal has been filed by the victim.
    2.   The case of the prosecution as noticed by the ld.trial court is as under:-


                 "On 10.3.2010, on receipt of DD No.20A, SI Sudesh Pal along with
                 Const.Sunil reached the spot of incident i.e. Goyala Mor, near

Crl.A.937/2013                                                         Page 1 of 30
                  Liquor Vend where they met the complainant Kumari Sonia. She
                 made a statement that she along with her sister Monika are
                 studying in XII Class and had come to Sarvodya Co-Ed School,
                 Paprawat Village for appearing in an examination. At about 1.30
                 p.m. when they came out of the school after finishing the paper,
                 their mother Bimla Kumari was waiting for them in vehicle towards
                 home. Bimla was at the wheel, Monika sat on the front passenger
                 seat, whereas Sonia sat on the rear seat. At about 1.45 p.m. when
                 they reached the main road near Radha Swami Satsang Bhawan, a
                 white colour Maruti car overtook their vehicle and stopped in front
                 of their vehicle. Two/three persons came down from the Maruti
                 car, one of them opened the driver's side window of their vehicle
                 and pushed their mother towards left side, another pulled out
                 Monika from the front passenger seat and the third one opened rear
                 door of their vehicle and pushed Sonia out of the car from the left
                 side. The person, who had pushed their mother towards her left
                 side and had put a revolver on her temple. They kidnapped the
                 mother of the two girls in her own car. The Maruti car, in which
                 the assailants had come, was being driven in front of their car.
                 The car of the assailants had dark tinted glassed but some persons
                 were present in the car. Sonia had made call at telephone no.100
                 from mobile phone no.9278284822 of her mother. She further
                 stated that she can identify the assailants, if shown to her."


  3.    On the basis of the aforesaid statement of Sonia, SI Sudesh Pal prepared
        rukka and got the FIR registered u/s 365 IPC. Further investigation of the
        case was handed over to SI Sudesh Pal. She prepared the site plan of the
        spot from where Bimla was kidnapped. On receipt of an information that
Crl.A.937/2013                                                        Page 2 of 30
         vehicle no.DL-6C-6137 in which Bimla had been kidnapped is lying
        parked at Jharoda Bus Stand, he proceeded to that spot and on search of
        the vehicle, he found a countrymade revolver near the rear seat. He
        prepared the sketch of the revolver. He called the Crime Team and got
        the vehicle inspected by the Crime Team. No chance fingerprints could
        be found on the car. SI Sudesh Kumar seized the car as well as the
        revolver. He also recorded the statement of other witnesses. The husband
        of Bimla, namely Karambir, in his statement stated that his wife may have
        been kidnapped by accused Narender @ Balle of Village Gorar, P.S.
        Kharkhoda, District Sonipat, as there was enmity between the two on
        account of some transactions. A raid was conducted by SI Sudesh Pal
        along with SHO and other staff in the village of Narender @ Balle but
        they could not find or trace the accused Narender or the prosecutrix
        Bimla.
  4.    It is further the case of the prosecution that on 11.3.2010, prosecutrix
        Bimla reached police station alongwith her husband Karambir and her
        statement u/s 161 Cr.P.C was recorded by SI Sudesh. Her statement was
        also recorded u/s 164 Cr.P.C by the concerned Magistrate, wherein
        besides confirming what was stated to the police by her daughter Sonia, as
        noted hereinabove, she further stated as under:-
               "After kidnapping me, the assailants proceeded towards Najafgarh.
            The vehicle of the assailants was following her vehicle. After
            traversing some distance, her vehicle broke down. At that time, her
            face had been covered by a cloth. She was transferred to the vehicle
            of the assailants, which was coming from behind. At that time, she
            shouted and some people gathered at the spot but the assailants told
            them that she is their mother and being ill, she is being taken for
            treatment. Thereafter, the assailants proceeded in their own car. After
            traversing some distance, when they reached near a drain, their vehicle
            also broke down. Two of the assailants took me to the wheat field
            near the road, look off my trouser and took turn in raping me. After a
Crl.A.937/2013                                                    Page 3 of 30
             long time, another vehicle was brought, I was put in that vehicle and
            they took me to village Gour where Narender @ Balle resides.
            Narender @ Balle took me to a room upstairs in his house and raped
            me there. After sometime, Narender put me in a vehicle and took me
            to the house of his sister Billo in Rohtak. There Narender beat me and
            obtained my signature by force on a blank paper. He also took my
            thumb impression by force on a paper, on which something was
            written and also had a revenue stamp affixed on it. In the morning on
            11.3.2010 at about 5.30 am, Billo and her sister-in-law (Jethani) and a
            boy took me to bus stand Rohtak, bought me a ticket for Nangloi and
            made me to sit in a bus. I got down from the bus at Bahadurgarh and
            boarded another bus for Gurgaon from which I got down at Deenpur.
            After getting down from the bus at Deenpur, I made a call to my
            husband from an STD Booth and thereafter I along with my husband
            came to the police station."

  5.    The victim Bimla was also medically examined in RTRM Hospital,
        Jaffarpur. Thereafter, section 376(2)(g) IPC was added in the FIR and
        search for the accused was started. At this stage, the investigation of the
        case was entrusted to WASI Saroj Bala.
  6.    It is further the case of the prosecution, the real brother of accused
        Narender @ Balle brought him to the police station on 17.4.2010 to
        surrender. In the meanwhile, victim Bimla also came to the police station
        for enquiry about the progress of her complaint and she immediately
        identified Narender @ Balle to be the person who had got her kidnapped
        and who had raped her in his house. Accused Narender @ Balle was
        accordingly arrested in this case. He was produced before the concerned
        Magistrate and taken on four days police remand. During the course of
        investigation of the case, another accused Satish @ Jassa was brought to
        the police station by his sister and brother-in-law (Jija) for surrender. At
        the same time, one Rajender, brother-in-law (Jija) of BIMLA came to the
        police station alongwith BIMLA for making enquiries about the progress
        of her complaint and she identified accused Satish @ Jassa to be the same
Crl.A.937/2013                                                     Page 4 of 30
         person who alongwith his two associates had kidnapped him on
        05.3.2010. Accused Satish @ Jassa was arrested in this case and his
        disclosure statement was recorded.        On the basis of his disclosure
        statement, section 120B IPC was added in the FIR. Accused Satish @
        Jassa was produced before the concerned Magistrate and he was taken to
        two days police remand to facilitate the arrest of the other co-accused
        persons but they could not be traced.
  7.    Prosecution further alleges that during the course of further investigation,
        accused Kapil was arrested on 04.6.2010 pursuant to a secret information.
        He also made a disclosure statement admitting his involvement in the
        kidnapping and rape of Bimla. He was taken on two days police remand.
        At his instance, another accused Niranjan @ Engine @ Amit was arrested
        in this case. Accused Niranjan also made a disclosure statement and he
        was remanded to one day's police custody. Accused Kapil is stated to
        have refused to participate in the TIP proceeding. On the basis of his
        disclosure statement, section 25 of Arms Act was added to the FIR.
        Accused Rajesh, Anil @ Chaman, Jaidev @ Jaideep could not be arrested
        despite efforts and NBWs were obtained against him.
  8.    On the basis of statement made by the victim, FIR was registered. The
        statement of victim and her husband was recorded. Her husband has
        stated that his wife had been kidnapped by Narender @ Balle of Village
        Gorar, P.S. Kharkhoda, District Sonipat, as there was enmity between the
        two on account of some transactions. Statement of the victim under
        section 161 and 164 Cr.P.C was also recorded.
  9.    Counsel for the appellant submits that the trial court has failed to consider
        that statement of the appellant recorded under section 164 Cr.P.C in
        English before the ld. Magistrate. The appellant being illiterate, was
        unable to get her statement recorded properly and her version of the case
Crl.A.937/2013                                                     Page 5 of 30
         was not recorded completely by the ld. Magistrate. It is also submitted
        that the questions asked by the Medical Officer during the appellant's
        medical examination were found to be confusing by the appellant. Thus,
        she could not answer properly before the Medical Officer.            It is also
        submitted that proper investigation was not carried out by the police. It is
        also submitted that the trial court has incorrectly held that there are
        material contradictions in the testimonies of the daughters of the appellant
        who were eye witnesses to the kidnapping of the appellant.                 It is
        contended that contradictions in the testimonies of both the minor
        daughters do not go to the root of the matter and their testimonies are
        reliable and trustworthy. Counsel further submits that the trial court has
        erred in relying on the medical evidence as per which no injury marks,
        external or internal were found on the body of the appellant.
  10. Counsel for the appellant also submits that the Session court has ignored
        material and vital evidences and the statement of complainant under
        Sections 161/164 of the Cr.P.C.. The investigation and prosecution of the
        present case was poor and weak at all time as it was filled with loop-holes
        and gaps, benefit of which resulted in total acquittal of the case. The
        relatives of the respondent no.2 (Narender @ Balle) i.e. the mother, sister
        and wife were never arrested and interrogated which if done could have
        guided the investigation as against the accused. The trial court has failed
        to consider that the statement of the prosecutrix is sufficient to convict the
        respondents and the appellant should not be made to suffer on account of
        poor investigation.
  11. Counsel for the respondents state that the trial court has carefully analysed
        the testimonies of the material witnesses including the prosecutrix and has
        rightly reached the conclusion that the testimonies of two eye witnesses
        are contradictory. There are contradictions in the statements made by the
Crl.A.937/2013                                                      Page 6 of 30
         prosecutrix under section 161 and section 164 Cr.P.C. and her statement
        before Court. There are material contradictions in the statements of PW-
        8, daughter of the prosecutrix and PW-5, second daughter of the
        prosecutrix.   Counsel also contends that none of the accused persons
        were arrested from the spot of the incident nor they were put to any test
        identification parade. Counsel also submits that the trial court has rightly
        observed that neither respondent Narender @ Balle nor Satish @ Jassa
        who surrendered had made any disclosure statement regarding address
        and description of any of the accused persons, but were later on arrested.
        Hence, there is doubt as to on what basis, police arrested the remaining
        accused persons.      Counsel also submits that there are material
        improvements in the statements made by the prosecutrix and
        contradictions between her statements made under sections 161, 164
        Cr.P.C and before the court. It is also contended that the prosecutrix
        testified that she was hit on the head by Kapil with a revolver and
        received injury, but no such injury was found during MLC. Counsel also
        submits that statement of the prosecutrix is unbelievable that the mother
        and wife of Narender @ Balle were present in the house when she was
        raped, and further medical evidence also does not support the theory of
        rape. Counsel also contends that as per prosecutrix, when she was being
        raped, she had bitten the fingers of the assailants which in fact was not
        stated in either of the two statements nor supported by medical evidence.
        It is also contended that the conduct of her husband also shows that on
        hearing the kidnapping of his wife, he did not go to the spot of the
        incident, but stayed at his home, which is highly unusual.
  12. Counsel for the respondents state that the respondents have been falsely
        implicated in the case. It is also contended that prosecutrix had taken
        money from respondents (Kapil and Narender @ Balle) on the pretext of
Crl.A.937/2013                                                       Page 7 of 30
         providing employment to them and their relatives in Delhi Metro, and to
        avoid repayment of that money, prosecutrix implicated them in a false
        case.
  13. Counsel for Narender @ Balle has further stated that a FIR stands
        registered against the prosecutrix and her husband at Police Station City
        Rohtak, Urban Estate, bearing FIR no.89/10, under section 409/420 /465/
        467/468/506/120B and 34 IPC, on a complaint filed by one Rakesh
        Kumar also from whom the prosecutrix had received money for providing
        employment. Counsel further stated that another FIR no.123/09 had been
        registered against the prosecutrix at Police Station Aman Vihar under
        section 420/468/471/34 IPC on a complaint filed by Mr. Bhupinder. He
        also stated that prosecutrix had issued threats to him asking him to
        withdraw the complaint or else face dire consequences.
  14. We have heard learned counsel for the appellant/victim as also counsel for
        respondent/State and counsel for the respondents 2 to 6 in detail, who
        have taken us through the trial court record including the testimonies of
        the material witnesses.   The prosecution has examined 25 witnesses to
        prove the charges against the accused persons. The accused persons i.e.,
        respondents 2 to 6 herein were examined under section 313 Cr.P.C.,
        wherein they denied all the incriminating circumstances and claimed that
        they had been falsely implicated in this case.   Respondents Kapil and
        Narender @ Balle had further stated that prosecutrix had taken money
        from them on the pretext of providing employment to them and their
        relatives in Delhi Metro, and to avoid repayment of that money,
        prosecutrix implicated them in a false case.
  15. We deem it appropriate to examine testimonies of some of the material
        witnesses in this case.
  16. PW-1, Dr.Neelu Mishra, has testified that on 11th March, 2010, when she
Crl.A.937/2013                                                   Page 8 of 30
         was posted as a Senior Resident Obst.Gynae, RTRM Hospital, Jaffarpur,
        New Delhi, one Bimla was referred to her for gynae examination. As per
        her observation:-
                 "There were two minor scratch marks on the right shoulder of the
                 patient. No injury marks on the external or internal genitalia were
                 present. Report about Hymen was not relevant as the patient was a
                 married lady having six children. I had sealed the nail clippings,
                 pubic hair, vulval and vaginal swabs of the patient with the seal of
                 the hospital and handed over the same to the police official who
                 was accompanying the patient.

                 During cross-examination, she has stated:-

                        It is correct that as per first and second column appearing on
                 page 3 of ExPW 1/A, the patient had stated that it was a case of
                 attempted penetration and not completed penetration. The two
                 scratch marks observed on the shoulder of the patient can be caused
                 by rubbing of the shoulder with any object. On 11.3.2010, I had
                 prepared only one MLC i.e., Ex.PW 1/A. I have conducted gynae
                 examination of many patients like this. I cannot give a definite
                 opinion in this case on the basis of clinical examination whether
                 rape was committed or not. I did not see any signs of forced rape in
                 the present case."

  17. The star witness in this case is PW-2, prosecutrix. She testified that on
        10th March, 2010, her daughters Monika and Sonia were appearing in the
        examination of 12th class in Village Paprawat. She had gone to the school
        in her Maruti car. At about 1.45 pm after the examination was over,
        children boarded her car and they proceeded towards their house.           Her
        elder daughter Monika was sitting on the front seat and Sonia was sitting
        on the rear seat. After five minutes, they reached near Swami Satsang
        Bhawan, Deenpur. When she crossed the lane of Satsang Bhawan, one
        small car came from behind and five persons were sitting in that car and
        they parked their car in front of her car. Three boys got down from the
        car and two boys had revolvers in their hands. One boy pushed her
Crl.A.937/2013                                                      Page 9 of 30
         towards left and two boys pulled her daughters out. One boy by the name
        Kapil, whose name she came to know afterwards sat on the driving seat of
        the car and another sat besides her on the front seat on her left. The other
        two boys also sat in her car and she can identify them by face but did not
        know their names.     She then testified that accused persons proceeded
        towards Najafgarh in her car.     Accused Anil @ Chaman pushed her
        towards back side while accused Niranjan covered her face with a towel.
        Accused Kapil hit her with the revolver on her head. After travelling
        some distance, her car broke down. The car of the accused persons was
        coming behind her car. One of the boys got down and covered her face
        with a blanket and made her sit in their car. The accused persons were
        shouting that she was their mother and they were taking her to the
        hospital. Thereafter accused persons took her to a village. The car of the
        accused persons also broke down. Accused Kapil, Niranjan and one other
        boy took her in a wheat field and other two accused persons remained
        present near the car to keep a watch. Thereafter Kapil, Niranjan and the
        third boy committed rape. Thereafter, they telephoned Balle and said that
        they had brought her and that their car had broken down.           Balle was
        asked to bring a car. After 1 ½-2 hours, accused Balle came in a big car
        alongwith two persons.     They made her sit in that big car and kept
        roaming in the car on the roads, and in the evening, they took her to the
        house of accused Balle in Village Guard. In the house of accused Balle,
        his mother, his wife Poonam, his sister Billo, her sister-in-law Neelam and
        two other boys were present. Accused Balle took her in his room on the
        first floor and the wife and sister of Balle helped him in taking her in the
        room. When his mother asked him not to take her upstairs, he kicked her.
        Thereafter accused Balle committed rape upon her. Thereafter at about 8-
        8.30 pm, accused persons took her to Rohtak. The accused persons had
Crl.A.937/2013                                                     Page 10 of 30
         gone in a separate vehicle while she was taken in another car in which the
        wife and sister of accused Balle, two other boys and Neelam, sister-in-law
        of Billo were also present. Accused Balle, his wife and sister had beaten
        her. In the said house, accused Balle forced her to sign some papers. As
        she is illiterate and did not know how to write her name, Balle asked her
        to see her name written on her forearm and to write it in the same manner.
        He had also put one red colour ticket on the said paper. On receiving a
        call, accused Balle ran away from there. Only ladies remained in the
        house with her.    In the morning while they slept, she came out of the
        house and went to a tea stall near the bus stand. She borrowed Rs.50/-
        from an old man and boarded a bus from Delhi for Rohtak. She got down
        at Bahadurgarh and took another bus for Gurgaon. About 7.30 am, she
        reached Deenpur Village bus stand and telephoned her husband from
        there. Her nephew came and picked her. Four police officers were
        present at his home at that time. She showed them the wound inflicted by
        accused Kapil on her temple with his revolver. On the next day, she was
        taken to the hospital for medical examination. Thereafter, her statement
        was recorded in the court. She identified her signature on the statement
        made under section 164 Cr.P.C.
  18. She was cross-examined by the Public Prosecutor.               During cross-
        examination by the Public Prosecutor she deposed that it was correct that
        accused Balle had put a revenue stamp on the documents before taking
        her signatures. She also stated that it was correct that she did not tell the
        police that at about 5.30 am, Billo, sister of accused Balle, Neelam, sister-
        in-law of Billo and one boy brought her to the Rohtak bus stand and
        purchased a ticket and made her sit in the bus. She was confronted with
        portion A to A of her statement Ex.PW 2/B under section 161 Cr.P.C
        where it was so recorded. She then testified that it was correct that on
Crl.A.937/2013                                                     Page 11 of 30
         17th April, 2010, she went to the police station Najafgarh to know about
        the progress of her case and she saw accused Narender @ Balle sitting in
        the police station along with his brother, when she identified Narender @
        Balle who had kidnapped and raped her. She had signed the arrest memo
        and search memo of accused Narender @ Balle. She also deposed that it
        was correct that on 11th June, 2010 she had again gone to the police
        station Najafgarh to know about the progress of her case and saw accused
        Kapil sitting in the police station and identified him as the person who
        had kidnapped and raped her. She also deposed that it was correct that on
        17th June, 2010, she again went to the police station to know about the
        progress of the case when she identified accused Niranjan as the person
        who had kidnapped her on 10th March, 2010 along with his associates.
        On 31st July, 2010, she again went to Police Station Najafgarh where she
        had identified accused Anil @ Chaman as the person who had kidnapped
        her and hit her on the temple with a revolver during kidnapping.         She
        admitted as correct that she knew Narender @ Balle prior to the incident
        and that accused Narender @ Balle had got her kidnapped. She did not
        tell the police that she had some money transaction with accused
        Narender @ Balle. She was confronted with portion A to A of her
        statement Ex.PW 2/E u/s 161 Cr.P.C where it is so recorded. During
        cross-examination by the counsel for the accused Narender @ Balle, she
        deposed that accused Kapil had hit her with a revolver on her right temple
        due to which she had sustained an internal injury, only and she told the
        doctor about the said injury during her medical examination.             She
        admitted that two criminal cases have been registered against her but they
        had been falsely registered by accused Narender @ Balle. Rakesh Kumar
        is the brother-in-law of Balle and Upender Kumar is also a relative of
        Balle. She further deposed that her husband was not an income tax payee.
Crl.A.937/2013                                                   Page 12 of 30
         Her husband earns Rs.60000/-70000/- per year. They have five children
        who study in a Government school.                 They live in a rented
        accommodation.       She admitted that they were maintaining a car.         She
        also stated that when accused Balle had thrown her on the bed, she had
        sustained a scratch on her back. She also stated that it was correct that her
        husband did not come to take her from Deenpur Bus Stand. During cross-
        examination, she has also stated that she did not cause any injury to the
        accused persons, rather they had caused injury to her.            She further
        deposed that she tried to oppose the accused persons by hitting with her
        limb but they did not sustain any injury. She also identified two persons
        in court who raped her.      The other accused persons were standing near
        the vehicle when the rape was committed.        She had sustained injury on
        her foot during rape. Her foot was bleeding slightly.
  19. During her cross-examination on behalf of accused Narender, she was
        confronted on the following issues:-

                 "I had stated to the police that accused Niranjan covered my face
                 with towel and accused Kapil hit me with a revolver on my head.
                 (Confronted with the statement u/s. 161 Cr.PC where it is not so
                 mentioned).

                       I had mentioned in my statement u/s 164 Cr. PC that my face
                 was covered and my mouth clamped by the accused with a black
                 colour blanket. (Confronted with the statement u/s. 164 Cr. PC
                 where it is not so mentioned).

                       I had stated to the police that the accused persons took me
                 alongside a drain. (Confronted with the statement u/s 161 Cr.PC
                 where it is not so mentioned).

                       I had stated to the Ld. Magistrate in my statement u/s 164 Cr.
                 PC and to the police also that two accused remained near the car to
                 keep watch. (Confronted with the statement u/s. 164 Cr. PC and
                 statement u/s. 161 Cr. PC where it is not so mentioned).
Crl.A.937/2013                                                      Page 13 of 30
                        I had stated to the police as well as to the Magistrate that
                 accused Kapil and one more person (the witness points towards
                 accused Anil in this regard present in court today) had committed
                 rape with me. (Confronted with the statement u/s. 164 Cr. PC and
                 statement u/s. 161 Cr. PC where it is not so mentioned).

                       I had stated to the police as well as to the Magistrate that
                 thereafter, accused telephoned accused Balle saying him that they
                 have brought me. (Confronted with the statement u/s. 164 Cr. PC
                 where it is not so mentioned).

                       I had stated to the police as well as the Ld. Magistrate that
                 the accused made me to sit in a big car and kept roaming in the car
                 on the roads till the evening. (Confronted with the statement u/s.
                 164 Cr. PC and statement u/s 161 Cr. PC where it is not so
                 mentioned).

                        I had stated to the police as well as the Ld. Magistrate that in
                 the house of accused Balle, his mother, his wife Poonam, his sister
                 Billo, her Devrani (sister-in-law) Neelam and two other boys,
                 whom I did not know, were present. (Confronted with the statement
                 u/s 164 Cr. PC and statement u/s. 161 Cr. PC where it is not so
                 mentioned).

                         I stated to the police as well as to the Ld. Magistrate that the
                 wife and sister of Balle helped him in taking me to the room on the
                 first floor of the house. (Confronted with the statement u/s. 164 Cr.
                 PC and statement u/s. 161 Cr.PC where it is not so mentioned).

                       I had stated to the police as well as to the Ld. Magistrate that
                 the accused travelled to Rohtak in a separate vehicle whereas I was
                 taken to another car in which wife and sister of accused Balle, two
                 other boys and Neelam were also present and that the accused took
                 me there to a big house from where I was shifted to another
                 house, they were planning to kill me and that accused Balle, his
                 wife and sister beat me there. (Confronted with the statement u/s
                 164 Cr.P.C and statement u/s 161 Cr.P.C where it is not so
                 mentioned).

                       I had stated to the police as well as to the Ld. Magistrate that
Crl.A.937/2013                                                         Page 14 of 30
                  in the morning when the accused and other persons were sleeping, I
                 came out of the house, went to a tea stall near Bus Stand, borrowed
                 Rs.50/- from an old man and boarded a bus for Delhi. (Confronted
                 with the statement u/s 164 Cr.P.C and statement u/s 161 Cr.P.C
                 where it is not so mentioned).

                        I had also stated to the police as well as the Ld.Magistrate
                 that my nephew came to the bus stand Deenpur to pick me up, took
                 me home where four police officers were already present and I
                 narrated all the facts to them and also showed them the wound
                 inflicted by accused Kapil on my temple with his revolver.
                 (Confronted with the statement u/s 164 Cr.P.C and statement u/s
                 161 Cr.P.C where is not so mentioned).

                        I knew accused Narender @ Balle even before the incident. I
                 did not know his family members before the incident. I came to
                 know about the names of the family members as the accused kept
                 on calling each other by names during the night when I was with
                 them. I did not receive any injury on any part of my body when
                 accused Narender @ Balle committed rape upon me on iron cot. It
                 was dry land at the place where I was raped by other accused in
                 field and therefore, my clothes did not get dirty. I did not get any
                 clay etc. on my hairs also. I did not suffer any injury during that
                 incident also.

                       I had narrated the incident to the doctor who had medically
                 examined me but I did not tell her the names of the assailants as I
                 did not know the names by that time. I had given the name of
                 accused Balle to the Doctor. I had stated the place of incident to the
                 doctor."

  20. PW-3, Constable Nagender, has testified that on 17.4.2010, at about 7.00
        a.m., the brother of the accused Narender @ Balle, had brought him to the
        Police Station. In the meanwhile, the prosecutrix also came to the Police
        Station and identified him as the person, who had raped her in her village.
  21. PW-5, Ms.Sonia, is the daughter of the prosecutrix, who was 15 years of
        age at the time of her making the testimony. PW-5 has testified that on
        10.3.2010, she along with her elder sister, Monika, had gone to the school
Crl.A.937/2013                                                       Page 15 of 30
         where she and her sister had appeared for the Class XII examination.
        After both the sisters came out from the school, their mother was waiting
        in her car. PW-5 sat on the rear seat of the car while her sister sat on the
        front seat of the car. On the way, near Radha Swami Satsang Bhawan, a
        white coloured Maruti car overtook their car and blocked their way. Three
        persons, whom she identified in the Court as Kapil, Anil @ Chaman and
        Niranjan, got down from the car. Kapil pushed her mother inside the car
        from the driving seat and sat on the driving seat of their car. Anil @
        Chaman pulled out her sister, Monika, from the car and Niranjan threw
        her out of the car after opening the door. Anil @ Chaman and Kapil had
        pistols in their hands. Her mother had two mobile phones made of Nokia
        and Virgin. Her mother threw the Virgin mobile phone from the car. The
        accused persons took away her mother in the car of the mother. She and
        her sister got up and informed Police on No.100 from the mobile. She also
        telephoned her father. After 10-15 minutes, 3-4 PCR vans came there.
        Police enquired from PW-5 and she told the Police about the incident.
        PW-5 was taken to the Police Station. She had met her father on the way
        to the Police Station.
  22. During cross-examination, PW-5 has testified that she was pulled out
        from the Maruti car. It was a kahcha road where she was thrown on the
        road but she did not sustain any injury. She fell with her face towards the
        road on the left side of the car. Dust accumulated on her face and entered
        her eyes, nostrils and mouth. First, her sister was thrown out of the car
        and thereafter she herself was thrown out of the car. Her sister did not
        sustain any injury but her face was full of dust.
  23. PW-8, Ms.Monika, is another material witness, being the second daughter
        of the victim. PW-8 has testified that on 10.3.2010, she along with her
        sister had gone to the examination centre. Their exam was over by 1.30
Crl.A.937/2013                                                    Page 16 of 30
         p.m. Her mother had come in her Maruti car to pick her and her sister. She
        was sitting on the front seat while her younger sister was sitting on the
        rear seat. When they reached Radha Swami Satsang Street at about 1.45
        p.m. one White coloured maruti car overtook their car and blocked their
        way. Three boys, Niranjan, Kapil and Anil @ Chaman (who were pointed
        out by this witness) had got down from the car. Two boys had pistols in
        their hands. Thereafter PW-8 became unconscious and she did not know
        what had happened henceforth.
  24. At the request of the Additional Public Prosecutor, this witness was
        examined. In her cross-examination, PW-8 has deposed as under:
                 "It is wrong to suggest that police had recorded my statement on
                 10/03/2010. I did not tell the police that one accused pushed my
                 mother from the driver seat inside the car and other accused pulled
                 me out from the car and third accused after opening the rear door of
                 the car, pushed my sister Sonia, out of the car and one of them put
                 the revolver on the head of my mother. (Confronted with portion A
                 to A of her statement Mark PW-8/1 where it is so recorded). I did
                 not tell the police that thereafter, those persons abducted my mother
                 and some other persons were also sitting in the car in which
                 accused persons had come and the glasses of the car were tinted
                 and my sister Sonia had called at 100 No. from mobile
                 No.9278284822. (Confronted with portion B to B of her statement
                 Mark PW-8/1 where it is so recorded). It is wrong to suggest that
                 one accused had pushed my mother inside the car or that one
                 accused pulled me out of the car or that third accused pushed my
                 sister Sonia out of the car. It is further wrong to suggest that
                 accused persons had abducted my mother in our car. It is wrong to
                 suggest that I have deposed falsely in respect of the confronted
                 portion for the reasons best known to me."

  25. During cross-examination carried out by learned counsel for the Anil @
        Chaman, PW-8, inter alia, has stated that she became unconscious after
        the accused persons came to their car with pistols, threw her on the
        ground and out of the car.

Crl.A.937/2013                                                       Page 17 of 30
   26. During cross-examination carried out on behalf of the accused, Kapil,
        Niranjan, Satish @ Jassa and Narender @ Balle, PW-8 has testified that
        she did not know what happened while she was unconscious. She has also
        testified that it takes 10 minutes by car to reach her house from the spot of
        the incident. This witness has also testified during cross-examination that
        her father took her to the hospital when she reached home as her father
        was present at home at that time.
  27. A careful examination of the testimonies of these three most material
        witnesses, being victim/prosecutrix PW-2; and her two daughters, PW-5,
        Sonia, and PW-8, Monika, we are of the view that the trial court has
        rightly reached the conclusion of acquittal. The statements of the two
        daughters of the prosecutrix, PW-5 and PW-8, who are the eye-witnesses,
        are contradictory and are unreliable.
  28. While PW-8, Monika, has testified that she became unconscious after the
        accused persons came to her mother's car and threw her on the ground
        and out of the car. This material fact has not been stated by PW-5, Sonia,
        in her testimony that her sister, PW-8, had became unconscious when she
        was thrown on the ground. In fact PW-5 has testified that both of them
        took 10-20 seconds in getting up from the kachcha road. PW-5 has also
        testified that their faces were full of dust and she telephoned the Police
        only after 4-5 minutes.
  29. We have also noticed another material contradiction. In her testimony,
        PW-5 has stated that when she was being taken to the Police Station, her
        father met them on the way, while PW-8, Monika, has testified that her
        father took her to the hospital when she reached home from the Police
        Station as her father was at home at that time. Ordinarily, this may seem a
        minor contradiction or variation with respect to the statements of both the
        witnesses but it gains immense importance in the facts of this case as the
Crl.A.937/2013                                                     Page 18 of 30
         testimonies of PW-5 and PW-8 would show that despite knowledge of
        kidnapping, the husband of the victim continued to remain at home and
        did not reach the spot of the incident. It is extremely unusual that the
        father, being aware that his two minor daughters were stranded at an
        isolated place, did not rush to the place of occurrence. In the normal
        conduct, under such circumstances, any father would reach the place of
        incident to rescue his minor daughter(s) and not wait for their arrival at
        home. It may also be noticed that PW-5, Sonia, in her statement to the
        Police had stated that her mother's mobile phone was with her, while in
        Court she has testified that her mother threw the mobile phone out of the
        car. Surprisingly PW-8, Monika, has not stated anything about the mobile
        phone more particularly, as to whether her sister had the mobile or her
        mother had the presence of mind to throw the mobile out of the car.
  30. It is a settled principle of law that conviction can be based on the sole
        testimony of the victim of sexual assault without corroboration from any
        other evidence. The statement of the prosecutrix is more reliable than any
        other witness. Where the testimony of victim of sexual assault instills the
        confidence in court, the same can be relied for conviction of the accused.
        It is also a well settled principle of law that corroboration as a condition
        for judicial reliance on the testimony of the prosecutrix is not a
        requirement of law but a guidance of prudence under the given
        circumstances.     In the case of Vijay @ Chinee v. State of Madhya
        Pradesh reported at (2010) 8 SCC 191, the Supreme Court has held:
                  "Thus, the law that emerges on the issue is to the effect that the
                 statement of the prosecutrix if found to be worthy of credence and
                 reliable, requires no corroboration. The Court may convict the
                 accused on the sole testimony of the prosecutrix."

31.     In the case of Md. Ali Vs. State of UP reported at 2015 (3) SCALE 274,

Crl.A.937/2013                                                     Page 19 of 30
         the Apex Court has held that:
                  "Be it noted, there can be no iota of doubt that on the basis of the
                 sole testimony of the prosecutrix, if it is unimpeachable and beyond
                 reproach, a conviction can be based.".
                                                                   [Emphasis supplied]

  32. In another case Mohd. Iqbal v. State of Jharkhand reported at (2013) 14
        SCC 481 the Apex Court has held that "There is no prohibition in law to
        convict the accused of rape on the basis of sole testimony of                the
        prosecutrix and the law does not require that her statement be
        corroborated by the statements of other witnesses."
  33. The present appeal is to be decided on the touchstone of law which has
        been laid down by the Supreme Court of India with regard to the
        deposition of the prosecutrix in the case of rape. In the light of the
        testimony of the prosecutrix, it is to be considered whether the trial court
        has rightly reached the conclusion of acquittal in this case. We have
        discussed the evidence of PW-2 (prosecutrix) in the paragraph aforegoing.
  34. In the present case, we find the testimony of PW-2, the prosecutrix, to be
        highly unreliable.     Before the contradictions in the statement of the
        prosecutrix are analyzed, we find that the manner of arrest of the
        respondents (accused before the trial court) is also shrouded in mystery,
        which also makes the story of the prosecutrix a suspect. We may also
        notice that no TIP was conducted with regard to the respondents as except
        Narender @ Balle, no other respondent was known to the prosecutrix.
  35. On careful examination of the evidence placed on record it would reveal
        that Kapil and Anil @ Chaman surrendered in the Police Station on their
        own and were then arrested.
  36. We may also notice that except for Narender @ Balle, the prosecutrix was
        not known to any of the remaining accused persons, yet no test

Crl.A.937/2013                                                       Page 20 of 30
         identification parade was carried out. All the accused persons were
        present in the Police Station with their faces uncovered, and on those days
        the prosecutrix had come to the Police Station to enquire about her case,
        which is also a strange coincidence. The respondents, Satish and Rajesh
        @ Anil, have also not been identified by the prosecutrix even in the Police
        Station.
  37. The cross-examination of PW-2, victim, with regard to identifying the
        accused persons reads as under:
                 "... It is correct that on 11.06.2010 I again went to PS Najafgarh to
                 know about the progress of my case and I saw accused Kapil sitting
                 in the PS and I identified accused Kapil who had kidnapped me and
                 had raped me.

                       It is correct that on 17.06.2010 when I again went to PS
                 Najafgarh to know about the progress of the case, I identified
                 accused Niranjan as a person who had kidnapped me on 10.03.2010
                 along with his associates.

                       It is correct that on 31.07.2010 I again went to PS Najafgarh
                 where I had identified accused Anil @ Chaman as the person who
                 had kidnapped me and hit me on my temple with a revolver during
                 kidnapping........"

  38. Without the identity of the accused, Satish, Kapil, Niranjan, Anil @
        Chaman and Rajesh @ Anil having been established, the prosecution
        cannot claim that Satish, Kapil, Niranjan, Anil @ Chaman and Rajesh @
        Anil are the persons who kidnapped and raped the prosecutrix.
  39. In our view the trial court has rightly reached the conclusion that evidence
        of identifying of accused persons at the trial court for the first time is
        inherently of a weak character and inadmissible.
  40. Para 33 of the judgment of the trial court reads as under:
                 "33. It is also relevant to point out here that as per the prosecution
                 case, the disclosure statements made by accused Narender and
Crl.A.937/2013                                                       Page 21 of 30
                  accused Satish @ Jassa, who were the first to have surrendered and
                 to be arrested, led to the arrest of other accused persons in this case.
                 I have minutely perused the disclosure statement Ex. PW3/A of
                 accused Narender and Ex.PW25/E of accused Satish @ Jassa.
                 Accused Narender in his aforesaid disclosure statement has not
                 mentioned the description or residential address of any of the
                 accused. Accused Satish has neither admitted his own involvement
                 in the incident of kidnapping and rape of the prosecutrix nor has
                 disclosed the involvement of any other accused in the same. He has
                 not given the description or residential address of any other
                 accused. Hence, I fail to understand that on what basis did the
                 police arrest the accused in this case and implicated them in this
                 case.

  41. In our view, the manner in which the prosecutrix escaped from the
        accused persons, is a very material factor and there are serious
        contradictions in her testimony in this regard, which cannot be ignored. It
        may be noticed that the prosecutrix was declared hostile on certain
        aspects. Firstly, in the statement recorded under Section 161 of the Code
        of Criminal Procedure, prosecutrix has stated that she escaped from the
        house where she was kept after kidnapping, which is in Rohtak (house of
        Niranjan's sister), took Rs.50/- from an old man and boarded a bus to
        Delhi, whereas in the statement recorded under Section 164 of the Code
        of Criminal Procedure she has deposed before the Magistrate that the
        accused Narender's sister Billo and her sister-in-law took her to
        Bahadurgarh bus stand, they purchased a ticket for her to Nangloi and
        Billo had given her a sum of Rs.100/-. Both these versions are entirely
        different. The prosecutrix was confronted with her own statement dated
        11.3.2010, which was given to the Police. It may also be noticed that the
        prosecutrix has also not handed over bus tickets to the Police during
        investigation.
  42. Secondly, in her testimony before the Court, the prosecutrix was

Crl.A.937/2013                                                         Page 22 of 30
         confronted with her statements recorded under Sections 161 and 164 of
        the Code of Criminal Procedure, wherein she has not stated that two boys
        were sitting in the car, were armed with revolvers. Thirdly, the conduct of
        the prosecutrix is doubtful as she nowhere has stated as to how she came
        to know that the house, in which she was allegedly raped, was the house
        of Narender and other house, where from she escaped, was the house of
        Narender's sister. We also find it unusual that the manner in which the
        prosecutrix has identified the house of Narender @ Balle, the manner in
        which she has been able to identify the family members of Narender @
        Balle and the precise relationship. Simply to say that since they were
        being referred to by their names as by itself is not a plausible explanation
        as this would not establish their relationship.
  43. The testimony of the prosecutrix is also unreliable as PW-2 in her
        statement recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
        has stated that the accused Narender after raping her in his house, put her
        in a vehicle and took her to the house of her sister Billo in Rohtak, where
        she was kept for the night. In the morning of the next date at about 5.30
        a.m., Billo and her sister-in-law (Jethani) and a boy took her to a bus
        stand at Rohtak, bought a ticket for Nangloi and made her to sit in a bus.
        She got down from the bus at Bahadurgarh, boarded another bus for
        Gurgaon and finally got down at Deenpur. Billo had given her a sum of
        Rs.100/- also. However, she has given a totally different story in her
        testimony before the court, wherein she deposed that only ladies were in
        that house for the night. In the morning when they were sleeping, she
        came out of the house, went to a tea stall near the bus stand, borrowed
        Rs.50/- from an old man and boarded a bus for Delhi from Rohtak.
  44. It may also be noticed that the prosecutrix had also testified that she had
        bitten the fingers of the assailants but no such injury marks were found on
Crl.A.937/2013                                                     Page 23 of 30
         the fingers of the accused persons during their medical examination. As
        far as the clothes of the prosecutrix, which were sent for forensic
        examination are concerned no semen was detected on them. In all cases
        of rape and even of gang rape there may not be any injury mark on the
        body of the victim as a helpless victim may not be in a position to resist
        the barbaric act. However, in this case where the case of the prosecutrix
        is that she was raped by three person (Kapil, Niranjan and one more boy)
        in open field, and thereafter by Narender @ Balle. There would be strong
        possibility of injury on the body of the victim on account be being raped
        by three persons in the open field. This gains importance on account of
        the totality of the evidence on record. Although in isolation this by itself
        would not be a ground to disbelieve the case of the prosecutrix.
  45. Respondent, Narender @ Balle, was known to the victim prior to the
        incident. As per the testimony of the prosecutrix, at first she was raped by
        the accused Kapil, Niranjan and one other boy in the open field, while the
        other two accused kept a watch. Thereafter it has been alleged that
        Narender @ Balle, had taken the prosecutrix to his house when his
        mother, wife, sister, sister-in-law and two other boys were present in the
        house. The prosecutrix has also testified that the wife and sister of
        Narender @ Balle did not object and in fact helped Narender in taking the
        prosecutrix to the room upstairs so that he could rape her.
  46. The testimony of the victim, in our view, cannot be relied upon, as it is
        unbelievable and beyond any imagination that Narender would have raped
        her in the presence and in the knowledge of his mother, wife, sister and
        sister-in-law.
  47. The case of the prosecution is not even supported by the medical
        evidence. We have extracted the evidence of Dr.Neelu Mishra. Her
        evidence is to be examined and analyzed having regard to the fact that the
Crl.A.937/2013                                                        Page 24 of 30
         prosecutirx has alleged rape by three persons.
  48. As per the observations made by PW-1, Dr.Neelu Mishra, in her report,
        Exhibit PW-1/A, there were two minor scratch marks on the right
        shoulder of the prosecutrix. No injury marks on the external or internal
        genital were present. It may also be noticed that in the first and second
        column appearing on her report, Exhibit PW-1/A, the prosecutrix had
        stated that it was a case of attempt penetration and not complete
        penetration. Also during cross-examination, PW-1 has testified that two
        scratch marks, observed on the shoulder of the patient (prosecutrix), can
        be caused by rubbing of the shoulder by any object. Also during cross-
        examination, PW-1 has testified that she had conducted gynae
        examination on many patients like the prosecutrix but she could not come
        to a definite opinion on the basis of clinical examination whether rape was
        committed or not. She has also testified that she did not see any sign of
        forced rape in the present case. The medical examination also does not
        show any injury on the temple region alleged to be caused by the revolver
        of Kapil.
  49. We have also examined the report of the CFSL, Ex.PW-25/H, Ex.PW-
        25/J and Ex.PW-25/K, as per which no semen was found on the clothes.
  50. The trial court has also rightly taken into account that in case a mobile
        phone was thrown on a kachcha road, which was full of dust, the phone
        would also have either been lost in dust considering the fact that the faces
        of PW-5 and PW-8 were covered by dust and it had entered into their
        eyes, nostrils and mouth or that dust would have gone into the small
        crevices in the key board of the phone and would have become difficult to
        operate.
  51. In paras 40, 42 and 43 the trial court has observed as under:

Crl.A.937/2013                                                     Page 25 of 30
                  "40. As per the aforesaid report Ex.PW1/A, the prosecutrix had told
                 PW1 during medical examination that she had bitten the fingers of
                 both the assailants. She has not stated so in her testimony before
                 this court as PW2 or in her statement u/s.161 Cr.PC and u/s.164
                 Cr.PC. No such bite mark has been seen on the fingers of any of the
                 accused during their medical examination. Further, the prosecutrix
                 has deposed that accused Anil @ Chaman had hit her on the head
                 with the pistol, as a result of which she had received injury on her
                 temple, which she had shown to the police as well as to the doctor.
                 However, as noted herein-above, no such injury was found on her
                 body during her medical examination.
                 42. The statements given by the prosecutrix to the doctor (PW1)
                 and the result of her medical examination contained in report
                 Ex.PW1/A undoubtedly knock out the prosecution case in totality.
                 It is manifest that the prosecutrix had not been raped at all on the
                 day of incident. She has fabricated a totally false story about her
                 kidnap and rape and has framed the accused falsely in this case.
                 The prosecutrix has clearly lied to the court by deposing that she
                 was raped by three of the accused, when she had herself told the
                 doctor, during her medical examination that it was a case of only
                 attempted rape and that too by two unknown assailants.
                 43. Even the allegation of attempted rape has not been proved. As
                 per the medical report Ex.PW1/A, the assailants had ejaculated
                 outside the body orifice of prosecutrix. At the same time, she has
                 also stated that neither she nor the assailants themselves performed
                 masturbation. Thus, when there was neither penetration nor
                 masturbation, how did the assailants ejaculate. There has to be
                 some stimulus for ejaculation. If it is taken to be true that the
                 assailants had ejaculated, it cannot be ruled out that some semen
                 drops would have fallen on the clothes of prosecutrix. It appears
                 from the evidence of prosecutrix that she had not changed her
                 clothes after the sexual assault till her medical examination and her
                 clothes were seized by the police. It also appears from the evidence
                 on record that clothes of the prosecutrix were sent to FSL, Rohini,
                 for forensic examination. However, the FSL result has not been
                 produced or proved on record. Hence, the allegations about the
                 attempted rape also must fail."

52.     Minor contradictions or insignificant discrepancies should not be a ground
        for throwing out an otherwise reliable prosecution case. A prosecutrix

Crl.A.937/2013                                                       Page 26 of 30
         complaining of having been a 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.     On careful analysis of the testimony of the prosecutrix, we
        find a large number of contradictions, inconsistencies, concealment,
        improvements and exaggerations in her statement which as noted above,
        which casts shadow of doubt and led us to find it difficult to rely upon her
        version. In view thereof, we have carefully examined the testimonies of
        the two daughters, the evidence of the doctor and the FSL report, let us
        see whether any other evidence has been adduced by the prosecution on
        record to support the version of the prosecutrix.
53.     In the case of Rai Sandeep @ Deepu Vs State of NCT of Delhi reported
        at (2012) 8 SCC 21, the Apex Court has culled out the test of sterling
        witness. In our view the prosecutrix has failed to pass the test. Relevant
        paragraph of the judgment reads as under:
                 "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
Crl.A.937/2013                                                     Page 27 of 30
                  and everyone of other supporting material 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."

54.     In our view the statement of the prosecutrix was not corroborated either
        from the medical evidence, scientific evidence or any other material on
        record. In the case of Radhu vs. State of Madhya Pradesh reported in
        2007 Cri. LJ 4704, the Apex Court has held that:
                 "The courts should, at the same time, bear in mind that false
                 charges of rape are not uncommon. There have also been rare
                 instances where a person has persuaded a gullible or obedient
                 daughter to make a false charge of a rape either to take revenge or
                 extort money or to get rid of financial liability. Whether there was
                 rape or not would depend ultimately on the facts and circumstances
                 of each case."

55.     In the case of Raju v. State of Madhya Pradesh reported at (2008) 15
        SCC 133, the Apex Court has held that testimony of the victim of a rape
        cannot be presumed to be a gospel truth and observed that false
        allegations of rape can cause equal distress, humiliation and damage to the
        accused as well. Relevant portion of the judgment reads as under:
Crl.A.937/2013                                                         Page 28 of 30
                   "11. It cannot be lost sight of that rape causes the greatest distress
                 and humiliation to the victim but at the same time a false allegation
                 of rape can cause equal distress, humiliation and damage to the
                 accused as well. The accused must also be protected against the
                 possibility of false implication, particularly where a large number
                 of accused are involved. It must, further, be borne in mind that the
                 broad principle is that an injured witness was present at the time
                 when the incident happened and that ordinarily such a witness
                 would not tell a lie as to the actual assailants, but there is no
                 presumption or any basis for assuming that the statement of such a
                 witness is always correct or without any embellishment or
                 exaggeration."

56.     The Apex Court in the case of Abbas Ahmed Choudhary Vs. State of
        Assam reported at (2010) 12 SCC 115, has held as under:

                 "We are conscious of the fact that in a matter of rape, the statement
                 of the prosecutrix must be given primary consideration, but, at the
                 same time, the broad principle that the prosecution has to prove its
                 case beyond reasonable doubt applies equally to a case of rape and
                 there can be no presumption that a prosecutrix would always tell
                 the entire story truthfully."

  57. The trial court has also taken into account the testimonies of the defence
        witnesses i.e. DW-1 and DW-2. The defence witnesses have testified that
        the prosecutrix was running and operating an employment racket. Both
        DW-1 and DW-2 have testified that they had paid money to the appellant
        herein, who had promised them that she could arrange for employment.
        DW-1 has testified the certified copy of the FIR, Exhibit DW-1/A; the
        order dated 21.5.2011 passed by Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Rohtak,
        (DW-1/B) vide which bail was granted to Bimla; and the order by which
        bail was granted to her husband (DW-1/C). DW-2 has deposed on the
        lines of DW-1.
  58. It is settled law that the testimony of the prosecutrix has to be consistent
Crl.A.937/2013                                                        Page 29 of 30
         and natural in line with the case of the prosecution and free from all sorts
        of infirmities, so as to inspire confidence in the Court. It cannot be
        presumed that the statement of the prosecutrix is always true or without
        any embellishment.
  59. In the case at hand the testimony of the prosecutrix is not natural and
        consistent with the case of the prosecution. Her version has no correlation
        with other supporting material being medical and scientific evidence.
        After rescanning the entire case in its right perspective, we are of the firm
        view if the evidence of the prosecutrix is read and considered in totality of
        the circumstances along with the other evidence on record, in which the
        offence is alleged to have been committed, we are of the view that her
        deposition does not inspire confidence, as her version does not
        corroborate with the medical evidence. On the contrary, based on the
        testimonies of DW-1 and DW-2, the motive of the prosecutrix, to falsely
        implicate the respondents, herein stands established. Resultantly, we find
        no merit in the appeal and the same is accordingly dismissed.




                                                                 G. S. SISTANI, J.

SANGITA DHINGRA SEHGAL, J. MAY 29, 2015 msr/ssn Crl.A.937/2013 Page 30 of 30