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[Cites 19, Cited by 0]

Delhi District Court

Unknown vs . on 13 September, 2017

                                           1

    In the court of Ashwani Kumar Sarpal, Addl. Sessions Judge­1
       cum Presiding Officer of Special Court under POCSO Act,
                (East District), Karkardooma Courts, Delhi.


                                                                  FIR NO.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­76/14
                                                                  PS­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Gandhi Nagar
                                                                 U/S­­­­­­­­­­­376/506 IPC & 
                                                                              4 of POCSO Act



                                       STATE 


                                          VS.
                                            

                                       RAKESH

                                   (SC­ 70/2014)
                                    ***************


JUDGMENT:

­ Record shows that accused is in custody since the date of his arrest i.e.  31­1­2014. He was granted  bail and even conditions of bail were   also   relaxed   but   no   bail   bond   was   furnished.   The   case   of   the accused was conducted initially by Amicus  Curie but thereafter at his request, another counsel from legal aid was provided to him.  

On   the   basis   of   the   prosecution   allegations,   the   charge   for offences under section 376/511 and 506 IPC as well as section 10 of the POCSO   Act   was   framed   vide   order   dated   5­5­2014.   However   after 2 conclusion   of   prosecution   evidence   and   receipt   of   FSL   report,   on   the basis of an application of the prosecution under section 216 Cr.P.C. and in view of 'no objection' given by the accused, the charge was amended and   converted   into   under   section   376,   506   IPC   and   section   6   of   the POCSO Act. Accused did not opt to recall any witness already examined even after amendment of the charge and instead pleaded not guilty to the same. 

PROSECUTION ALLEGATIONS:­  FIR was lodged on 30­1­2014 at 11.45 p.m. by Smt. Shabana Begum,   mother   of   the   victim   (a   girl   child   aged   about   8   years   whose identity is not disclosed herewith) with allegations that on 30­1­2014 at about 5 p.m. victim had gone out of house for playing and she came back at about 5.30 p.m. in weeping and feared condition. On inquiry, victim disclosed that accused Rakesh @ Chhole uncle took her to Jhuggi and removed   her   'Pajami'.   Thereafter  he   started   doing   'Chedchad'   with   her vagina (Peshab Wali Jagah).  Complainant Smt. Shabana Begum found that cloths of victim were wet. She along with victim went to Jhuggi of accused but on seeing them, he ran away from there. Complainant then called the police at 100 number. Police took victim, complainant and her husband   Sultan   to   SDN   hospital   where   medical   examination   of   the victim took place. 

IO SI Pooja Pandey on receipt of PCR call vide DD no. 32A firstly   reached   at   the   spot   of   occurrence   i.e.   Peeli   Mitti   Jhuggi,   near Sayyed Tosir Ali Mazar, Chandra Puri, Gandhi Nagar, Delhi and then to SDN   hospital.   She   collected   MLC   and   sealed   exhibits   of   the   victim.

3

Mother of the victim gave statement to the IO who got the FIR lodged. Thereafter IO along with victim and her parents came at the spot and prepared site plan and arrested the accused at the instance of the father of the victim. Accused was sent to hospital for medical examination and his exhibits were seized. At the spot of incident, semen sample were also collected from the cot upon which sexual assault took place. Statement of the victim was got recorded from MM concerned on 1­2­2014 under section u/s 164 Cr.P.C. The exhibits of both victim and accused were sent   to   FSL   and   date   of   birth   proof   of   the   victim   was   collected.   After completion of investigation, charge sheet was filed in the court. However, due   to   not   pleading   guilty   by   accused   person,   trial   started.   During pendency of the case, FSL result was also received.

EVIDENCE LED:­  Prosecution in order to prove its case examined total following 13 witnesses. 

        Sr.         Name of                    What the witness proved
       no.       the witness
      PW­1       Mohd.       He   is   the   father   of   the   victim   at   whose
                 Sultan             instance   IO   allegedly   prepared   site   plan
                                    and arrested the accused vide arrest memo
                                    Ex.   PW1/A   and   his   personal   search   was
                                    conducted   vide   Ex.   PW1/B.   Lateron   he
                                    also handed over copy of birth certificate of
                                    the   victim   to   IO   which   was   seized   vide
                                   4

                        memo Ex. PW1/C. 
PW­2    Smt.            She   is   the   mother   of   the   victim   and
        Shabana         complainant   as   on   her   complaint   Ex.
        Begum           PW2/A, FIR was registered.
PW­3    Victim          She   proved   how   and   in   which   manner

(identity   is incident of rape, criminal intimidation etc. concealed) took place with her.

PW­4  High   Court He   being   posted   as   MHCM   in   the   police Surender  station   deposited   sealed   pullanda containing exhibits of victim and accused in   Malkhana   respectively   on   30­1­2014 and 31­1­2014 and sent to FSL on 17­2­ 2014 at the instance of the IO vide entries in the relevant registers Ex. PW4/A to C. PW­5  High   Court He was working as duty officer and simply Gajender recorded formal FIR Ex. PW5/A on receipt of rukka  from IO and  made endorsement Ex. PW5/B on the complaint.

PW­6 SI Munesh She   partly   investigated   the   case   and produced the victim before MM concerned for   recording   her   statement   u/s   164 Cr.P.C. She also took into possession the photocopy of date of birth certificate of the victim   from   her   father   as   well   as   also collected the same from school concerned vide memo Ex. PW6/A in which the victim was   studying.   The   exhibits   of   victim   and 5 accused   were   also   sent   to   FSL   at   her directions by MHCM.

PW­7 Dr. Neelam  She proved MLC of the victim Ex. PW7/A and handed over the exhibits of the victim to police.

PW­8 SI   C.P. He on receipt of PCR call had reached at Singh  the   spot   of   incident   and   took   victim   to hospital   for   medical   examination   and thereafter handed over investigation to IO SI Pooja Pandey. 

PW­9 Ct.   Vishnu He was  posted as duty constable in SDN Kumar hospital   and   collected   exhibits   of   victim and   accused   from   the   doctors   concerned and   handed   over   to   IO   SI   Pooja   Pandey vide Ex. PW9/A and B. PW­10 Ct. Praveena She along with SI C.P. Singh had reached the   house   of   the   victim   and   thereafter accompanied the victim and her parents to hospital. She also took rukka prepared by SI   Pooja   Pandey   to   police   station   for getting the case registered and then came back to spot with copy of FIR and original rukka and handed over to the IO.

PW­11 ASI   Manoj He   had   reached   at   the   spot   along   with Kumar crime   team   and   took   photographs   Ex.

PW11/A1   to   A6   and   also   produced negatives   of   the   same   Ex.   PW11/A7   to 6 A12. 

PW­12 Sh.   Naresh He   being   Sr.   Scientific   Officer   cum Kumar Chemical Examiner proved FSL report and DNA   profile   reports   Ex.   PW12/A   and PW12/B. PW­13 SI   Pooja She   is   the   main   IO   and   proved   various Pandey aspects of her investigation.

It is important to mention here that accused admitted his MLC Ex. PA1 and   school   record   of   the   victim   Ex.   PA2   by   giving   statement   u/s   294 Cr.P.C.

STATEMENT OF ACCUSED U/S 313 CR.P.C. & DEFENCE EVIDENCE:­  Accused in response to various questions put to him in his statement   u/s   313   Cr.P.C.   avoided   to   give   any   answer   and   showed ignorance by saying that he does not know. However, he also stated that mother of the victim had run away from her house with one Nasir living in   the   same   street   and   accused   along   with   her   husband   had   gone   to search   her.   It   is   also   stated   that   mother   of   the   victim   was   found   in Nizamuddin area but Nasir could not be traced out. Accused had asked the mother of the victim to mend her ways but she threatened him to involve in a false case, which he would remember for whole life. Accused also stated that after 2­3 months of this incident, father of the victim had shoot Nasir. Accused again asked the mother of the victim not to have any contact with Nasir but she involved him in this false case. According to   the   accused,   victim   had   also   given   false   statement   before   MM concerned   and   even   this   fact   is   noted   by   that   MM   while   recording 7 statement   u/s   164   Cr.P.C.   However,   accused   did   not   opt   to   lead   any evidence in defence.

REASONS FOR DECISION:­  I have heard Addl. PP for state and counsel for the accused and   gone   through   the   record.   Following   points   have   arisen   during arguments;

(a)  There   is   no   dispute   about   age   of   the   victim:­  Victim   was   aged about 8 years when the incident took place. No dispute about the age of   the   victim   was   raised   during   trial   on   behalf   of   accused.   Due   to admission   of   the   accused   made   in   statement   under   section   294 Cr.P.C. regarding birth record Ex. PA2, it is established on record that minor   victim   was   just   8   years   of   age   at   the   time   of   incident. Accordingly,   she   comes   within   definition   of   'child'   as   defined   under provisions of POCSO Act.

(b) Accused is a potent person:­ After arrest, the accused was medically examined   from   the   hospital   to   know   about   his   potency.   Accused admitted   his   own   MLC   Ex.   PA1   in   his   statement   u/s   294   Cr.P.C. which   says   that   he   was   capable   to   perform   sexual   intercourse   and was   not   impotent   person.   There   is   reference   of   collection   of   blood sample of the accused in this MLC which fact is even not disputed at argument stage.

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(c)  MLC   of   the   victim   does   not   fully   support   the   prosecution version:­  PW­7 Dr. Neelam had medically examined the victim in the hospital and she proved her MLC Ex. PW7/A dated 30­1­2014 with alleged history of attempt of sexual assault. Victim was however not able to give any history of incident but the same was reported by her father,   though   victim   was   found   well   oriented   to   time,   place   and person at the time of examination according to the contents of this MLC.

MLC shows that victim was brought in the hospital at 8 p.m. After examination, it was found by PW­7 that there was no evidence of any external injury/bruise. No bleeding or tear seen and hymen of the victim   was   found   intact.   Vulval   area   and   rectal   area   were   found normal.   This   doctor   prepared   various   exhibits   of   the   victim   and handed over to the police after sealing at 11 p.m.  It is argued on behalf of the accused that numbers of above facts mentioned in the MLC are going in favour of the accused and rule   out   any   penetration/rape   as   well   as   any   force   used   upon   the victim   while   committing   alleged   sexual   assault.   According   to   the counsel, had there been any rape, then hymen of minor girl must have been torned and there must have been swelling or injury marks on the vaginal   area   because   the   medical   examination   was   done   within   3 hours   of   the   alleged   incident.   These   submissions   however,   shall   be considered along with other evidence lateron.

(d) FSL report confirms penetrative sexual assault/rape:­ IO PW­13 SI Pooja Pandey stated that she had also lifted semen stains found on the   cot  upon  which   sexual  assault  was  committed   with   the  help   of 9 cotton and even piece of Nylon Strips (Niwar) of the cot was cut and sealed   after   putting   in   plastic   container   vide   seizure   memo   Ex.   PW 13/A.   After   medical   examination   of   the   accused   vide   MLC   Ex.   PA1 (which accused already admitted in his statement under section 294 Cr.P.C.), his exhibits including blood sample were seized vide memo Ex. PW9/B. These exhibits of the victim and accused were deposited by IO in the malkhana of the police station on 30­1­2014 and 31­1­ 2014   respectively   and   lateron   sent   to   FSL   on   17­2­2014   for comparison as proved by PW­4. Nothing has come on record from the cross   examination   of   PW­4   or   PW­13   that   those   exhibits   were tempered with at any stage. 

PW­12 proved FSL report and DNA profile comparison report Ex. 12/A and B. This report clearly says that exhibits were received in duly sealed condition. According to this witness, DNA generated from vaginal   secretion   of   the   victim,   her  Pajami   and   semen   stains   found from the Niwar (cloth piece) of the cot at the spot was found matching with the DNA generated from the blood sample of the accused. Semen traces   detected   from  the  vaginal  secretion  of  the   victim,   her  Pajami and Niwar of the cot found belonging to the accused. Thus, this FSL and DNA reports clearly indicates that victim was sexually assaulted by   the   accused   and   during  that   process,   his   semen   was   ejaculated from his penis which had fallen not only in the vaginal portion of the victim,   on   her   'Pajami'   but   also   on   the   cot   upon   which   the   sexual assault was committed. Accordingly, it can be said that FSL and DNA report   Ex.   PW12/A   and   B   fully   support   the   prosecution   case   and proved that penetrative sexual assault had taken place.

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(e)  Defence   plea   improbable   and   unacceptable:­  According   to   the accused in his statement u/s 313 Cr.P.C., mother of the victim i.e. PW­2 was having some relationships with one Nasir with whom she had also run away. Accused and her husband i.e. PW­1 had traced her from Nizamudin area and accused had asked PW­2 to mend her ways due to which she threatened to implicate him in a false case. It is also stated that father of the victim also shoot that Nasir. However, no evidence is brought on record in this regard. Accused in order to prove this defence story neither examined himself nor any witness or any police record. If PW­1 had shoot the Nasir, then there must have been some police report but no such report was produced and instead accused opted not to lead any defence evidence. Even the story as now alleged   in   statement   u/s   313   Cr.P.C.   was   not   exactly   put   to   any witness in his/her cross examination. 

PW­1 in his cross examination totally denied that Nasir used to come to his house in order to meet his wife and both had run away once. PW­1 also denied the suggestion given in cross examination that his   wife   used   to   talk   with   Nasir   on   phone   and   used   to   meet   him. Suggestion   was   given   to   PW­1   that   few   days   prior   to   the   date   of incident, a quarrel had taken place between his wife and Nasir and accused being the friend of Nasir intervened and told her that she has children and should not have relations with Nasir due to this reason she   got   annoyed   and   falsely   implicated   the   accused   in   this   case. Similarly, PW­2 also denied having run away with Nasir though she simply admitted that he was known to her. She also denied meeting him or remaining in contact with him through phone. She also denied 11 taking any financial help from Nasir or had quarreled with him and accused   being   friend   of   the   Nasir   intervened   and   she   due   to annoyance threatened him to falsely implicate in a case. Accused by putting   these   vague   defence   plea   suggestions   which   are   specifically denied failed to prove the same. Neither any witness was examined in defence   nor   any   details   were   given   when,   where   and   in   whose presence,   alleged   threats   of   false   implication   were   given   by   PW­2. Thus, accused had raised defence plea which is not acceptable and even   plausible   to   show   that   there   existed   any   chance   of   false implication, so the same is hereby rejected.

(f) Arrest of the accused in presence of PW­1:­ Accused has not denied his arrest by the police from his own house in the presence of PW­1 who specifically stated that he was present at the time of arrest and in his   presence   arrest   memo   of   the   accused   Ex.   PW1/A  was   prepared and personal search was conducted vide memo Ex. PW1/B. No doubt, no other public witness was joined by the IO at the time of arrest of the accused but that will not make the arrest as illegal firstly because normally   public   persons   avoids   to   join   the   police   proceedings   and secondly   the   arrest   took   place   in   the   midnight   at   about   1   a.m.,   so chances   of   availability   of   public   persons   almost   becomes   nil.   Delhi High Court in  Ghanshyam @ Raju vs. State 241 (2017) DLT 552 held   that   public   witnesses/   persons   are   generally   reluctant   to   join police proceedings and court cannot ignore this handicap with which investigating   agency   has   to   discharge   its   duties.   In   such   situation, 12 non joining of any public witness does not invalidate the arrest of the accused.

(g)  Evidence   of   PW­2   mother   of   the   victim   is   not   a   hearsay evidence:­ PW­2 is the mother of the victim to whom victim just after the incident told while weeping and in scared position that accused had committed wrong act with her. PW­2 was told by the victim that accused had taken her to a Jhuggi and there he removed her panty and touched her vagina. PW­2 also noticed that the front portion of her salwar was wet and having stains, so she called the PCR which took the victim to hospital. Victim had told her mother some acts of the accused in details regarding sexual assault. This statement of the mother   of   the   victim   cannot   be   treated   as   simple   hearsay   evidence especially when no cross examination on the same was done. It is the first version of incident which the victim narrated to her mother just after the incident within a period of ½ hour of commission of offence and thus is a relevant fact forming part of the same transaction being admissible   under   section   6   of   the   Evidence   Act.   Accordingly,   the testimony of PW­2 cannot be rejected being an inadmissible fact and somehow support the prosecution case.

(h)  Statement   of   minor   victim   is   reliable   and   trustworthy:­  The statement   of   the   victim   was   also   recorded   by   MM   concerned   under section 164 Cr.P.C. In this statement Ex. PW3/A, victim stated that on one day, she was playing with other children at some distance from her house, then accused Chhole came there who was being called as 13 'Chacha' by her. On the pretext of giving some thing to her, accused took   her   to   a   Jhuggi   where   no   other   person   was   present.   Accused made the victim lied upon the cot and opened his pant. He opened the chain of his own pant and then removed the 'Pajami' of the victim. He then   threatened   the   victim   to   kill   if   she   told   anything   to   anyone. Victim  stated  that  she  was  feeling big  fear  at  that  time.  Thereafter, accused   started   touching   his   penis   with   her   vagina   and   laid   down with her on the cot (Uske Baad Wo Apni Susu Wali Cheej Ko Mere Susu Karne Ki Jagah Par Lagane Laga. Woh Mere Saath Khat Par Leat Gaya). Victim also disclosed that after some time, accused asked her to wear her 'Pajami' which she herself wore. Thereafter, accused left the   Jhuggi   by  leaving  her  there.   Due   to   fear   she   did   not   go   to   her house and sat on a vehicle. After some time, her brother came to call her, then she went to her house and told about the incident to her mother. Her mother opened her 'Pajami' and saw. Thereafter she told about it to her father who thereafter asked her to call the police. 

The   above   statement   of   the   victim   Ex.   PW3/A   was   got recorded under section 164 Cr.P.C. from the Metropolitan Magistrate concerned   by   the   police   but   that   MM   is   not   summoned   by   the prosecution   to   prove   the  fact  of   recording it.   However,  statement  of victim u/s 164 Cr.P.C. was recorded by the Metropolitan Magistrate in discharge of his official duties under law, so the same can be taken into consideration even without its formal proof by the concerned MM. Otherwise   also   victim   PW­3   in   her   deposition   stated   that   she   was produced in the court earlier and she told everything to Judge Sahib. Thus, this statement has to be read in evidence especially when no 14 cross examination  was done on the same. Moreover, this statement u/s 164 Cr.P.C. can be treated as a part of the judicial proceedings performed by the judicial officer so is per­se admissible in evidence. Hence,   no   benefit   can   be   given   to   the   accused   merely   due   to   non examination   of   the   MM   concerned   in   the   court.   Accordingly,   this statement Ex. PW3/A has to be read for purpose of corroboration and contradiction purposes. 

The statement of the victim was recorded in court as PW­3. Before   recording   her   statement,   the   court   made   inquiry   by   putting various questions to her and then came to the conclusion that she is a competent witness and her statement can be recorded without oath. At   that   time,   the   age   of   the   victim   was   just   8   years.   Most   of   the evidence of the victim was recorded in question answer form.

Victim PW­3 identified the accused in the court. She deposed that   on   one   day,   she   was   playing   with   her   friends   outside   of   her house. Accused told her that he will give her something to  eat and took   her   in   a   Jhuggi.   Thereafter,   he   removed   her   underwear   and touched his 'Susu Wali Jagah'  with  her 'Susu Wali  Jagah'. She felt pain and started crying. Thereafter, accused went beneath the bridge and she reached home crying. On being asked by her mother, she told everything to her who made a call at 100 number. Police took her and her   father   to   police   station.   From   there   she   was   taken   to   hospital. After medical examination, they returned to police station. Her mother also reached there. From there they returned back to house. Victim also stated that she was produced in the court earlier and she told everything to Judge Sahib. 

15

With   the   permission   of   the   court,   Addl.   PP   was   allowed   to cross   examine   the   victim   on   some   points.   Thereafter,   victim   also stated   that   accused   is   also   known   as   Chhole   and   she   call   him 'Chacha'. She also stated that she told the Aunty (i.e. Women Judge who recorded statement u/s 164 Cr.P.C.) that accused made her lie down on a cot, started opening his pant, opened jip of his pant and removed her 'Pajami'. She also stated that she told Aunty that accused threatened to kill her if she told about it to anyone. She also stated that she was scared and thereafter he started touching his 'Susu Wali Cheej' at her 'Susu'. Victim also admitted in cross examination done by Addl. PP that accused also lie down with her and after sometimes, asked her to wear her 'Pajami'. Thereafter she herself wore the 'Pajami' and Chhole left her alone in the Jhuggi and went away and she being scared did not go to her house. However, she denied the fact that she told the MM concerned that she sat on a vehicle and when her brother came there to call her, then she went with him to the house. She also stated that her mother had also checked her 'Pajami'. 

Counsel for the accused relied upon case law  Samay Singh vs.   State   1998   (1)   JCC   (Delhi)   217  in   which   it   is   held   that   child witness   is   prone   to   tutoring,   hence   the   court   should   look   to corroboration   particularly   when   the   evidence   betrays   traces   of tutoring. In this case, victim was 6 years of age who was raped. Court found   that   victim   was   tutored   by   her   parents   to   speak   against   the accused   for   committing   offence.   In   cross   examination   she   revealed quite contradictory facts to her examination in chief. Medical evidence favours the accused showing no act of rape or any kind of injury to 16 her private parts. There was an old enmity also between accused and parents of the victim. 

Accused in his statement u/s 313 Cr.P.C. alleged that victim was telling lie and in this regard, MM concerned also gave observation while recording her statement u/s 164 Cr.P.C. but I did not find any such observation on record. In this regard, plea taken by the accused is totally incorrect and false. 

During cross examination of victim PW­3, following answers also came on record which were specifically pointed out by counsel in order   to   show   that   victim   was   tutored   to   speak   lie   in   a   particular manner;

Q­ If your mother had told you what you have to say here? A­ Yes.

Court Question­ What your mother told you?

A­ My mother told me to tell whatever had happened with me.

Q­ You have told whatever was told by your mother to you? A­ Witness nodded her head in affirmative.

Q­   Even   when   you   were   produced   before   Aunty   (i.e.   MM concerned) earlier your mother told you what you have to say to Aunty?   

A­Yes 17 Q­ What was told to you by your mother?

A­ My mother told me to tell whatever had happened with me.

Q­You have told today and earlier before the  Aunty (i.e. MM concerned) whatever was told to you by your mother? A­ Witness nodded her head in affirmative.

However,   victim   specifically   denied   the   suggestions   given   in   cross examination on behalf of the accused that accused had not taken her anywhere, had not done anything with her and she was telling lie on the instance of her mother. If the entire evidence of the victim is taken into consideration, then it can be said that she was not tutored by her mother to depose in a particular manner. She might have been asked by the mother to tell the court but apparently was told only to speak whatever had happened with her. If the above mentioned answers of the victim are taken into consideration in totality, then the possibility of any tutoring is ruled out. Moreover, no question was asked from the victim in cross examination what particular fact has been tutored by her mother which was to be deposed. 

Furthermore,   testimony   of   the   victim   cannot   be   disbelieved who had no motive to falsely implicate the accused. Delhi High Court in   case  Hunny   vs.   State   241   (2017)   DLT   346  relied   upon   the testimony of the victim who was aged about 5 years only and upheld the conviction. The way in which manner the victim deposed in the present case rule out any possibility of any tutoring. 

18

Counsel for the accused pointed out discrepancies in the MLC of the  victim Ex.  PW7/A and  FSL­DNA reports  Ex.  PW12/A and  B. Even if the hymen of the victim was found not torned as per MLC but semen traces of accused were detected from vaginal wash and Salwar of the victim and also on the Nawar of cot. Victim specifically stated that she felt pain and started crying when the accused had removed her underwear and touched his penis with her vagina. From the above evidence and testimony of the victim, the only conclusion thus can be that as and when the accused started doing penetration, then at that time,   he   discharged   his   semen   and  there   was   no   full and   complete penetration. Due to incomplete penetration, hymen of the victim was not torned though the process of penetration had already started. Law does   not   prescribe   anywhere   that   particular   degree   of   penetration should   be   proved   before   constituting   offence   of   rape.   In   present situation,   the   offence   of   rape/penetrative   sexual   assault   is   fully established. No benefit can be given to the accused in such situation that there was no injury on the viginal area of the victim or hymen was   not   torned.   The   MLC   of   the   victim   has   to   be   taken   into consideration along with  oral testimony of the victim read with FSL report.  

After going through the statement of the victim, I am of the view   that   nothing   material   has   come   on   record   from   her   cross examination   to   hold   that   she   is   either   tutored   witness   or   is   not correctly   deposing.   There   was   no   motive   on   her   part   to   falsely implicate the accused.

19

Simple   fact   that   family   members   of   the   victim   PW­3   had accompanied   with   the   victim   to   court   at   the   time   of   recording statement   u/s   164   Cr.P.C.   does   not   mean   that   victim   was   tutored even at that time. Since, the victim was minor child of 8 years of age, so it was natural that her parents accompanied her to court as she alone could not go anywhere. After going through the testimony of the victim, I am of the view that testimony of the child victim is natural and trustworthy. 

Delhi High Court in case  Tasleem vs. State 2011 (2) JCC 846  held   that   conviction   can   be   sustained   on   the   evidence   of   the prosecutrix alone and same does not require corroboration in all cases because it is not the law that in every case version of the prosecutrix must be corroborated in material particulars by independent evidence on record. It is the quality of the evidence of the prosecutrix which is material.   If   the   evidence   is   found   to   be   free   from   blemish   and implicitly   reliable,   the   conviction   can   be   recorded   even   on   her   sole testimony. 

Delhi High Court in  Ravi @ Bire vs. State Crl. Appeal no. 227/2017   decided   on   16­8­2017  held   that   in   a   case   of   rape   or sexual assault on child of tender age, her testimony does not require any corroboration if otherwise it is inspiring confidence.  If   para   no. 14   of   this   case   is   taken   into   consideration   and   is   applied   in   the present situation, then possibility of false implication of the accused does not survive. High Court held in this paragraph that "otherwise also, the child victim who was 9 years 3 months and 21 days at that 20 time, would not have deposed against the appellant had she not been sexually abused by him. She had hardly any motive to implicate him in such a serious offence wherein she herself had suffered mentally and physically".

Accordingly, after  going through the entire testimony of  the victim, it is held that there is no ground to disbelieve her regarding committing of penetrative sexual offence against her. The FSL report and the previous statement given to MM concerned under section 164 Cr.P.C.  corroborate  her version.  The testimony of  the victim can be accepted as correct in order to sustain conviction of accused.

(i) Contradictions and discrepancies in the statement of witnesses:­ During   arguments,   few   contradictions   and   inconsistencies   in   the statement   of   some   witnesses   was   pointed   out   by   counsel   for   the accused but in my view the same are minor and immaterial in nature which does not effect the merits of the case. Otherwise also, normally these inconsistencies are likely to happen due to passage of time and fading   of   memory.   Accordingly,   these   are   liable   to   be   ignored   and cannot   became   base   to   reject   the   testimony   of   inspiring   witnesses including   the   victim.   In   this   regard,   reliance   can   be   placed   upon Ghanshyam   @   Raju   vs.   State   241   (2017)   DLT  552.  Even   if   it   is presumed that IO somehow tried to manipulate the small part of the investigation, then that will not affect the prosecution case as a whole, when the testimony of the victim is reliable and acceptable. 

21

(i) PW­1 father of the victim in his examination in chief stated that IO prepared site plan at his instance on 30­1­2014 but in the cross   examination,   he   changed   this   stand   and   denied preparation of any site plan in his presence. However, as per IO PW­13   she   prepared   site   plan   at   the   instance   of   father   of   the victim.

(ii) PW­2 mother of the victim stated that police had taken victim and   her   husband   to   hospital   for   medical   examination   of   the victim. She in her cross examination totally denied having gone to   hospital.   However,   as   per   IO   PW­13,   parents   of   the   victim were present in the hospital where mother of the victim PW­2 gave statement which was sent to police station for registration of the FIR.

(iii) As   per   PW­2,   her   statement   was   recorded   in   police   station whereas according to IO, it was recorded in hospital. 

(iv) PW­2 totally denied the fact that after incident she had gone to the   Jhuggi   of   the   accused   and   on   seeing   them,   accused   ran away  from there. This fact however is stated in her complaint given to police Ex. PW2/A.

(v) PW­2   stated   in   cross   examination   that   she   did   not   know   the name of father of the accused nor had told about the same to police but in her complaint Ex. PW2/A, she had mentioned the name of father of the accused as Het Ram. 

(vi) IO   PW­13   in   her   statement   mentioned   that   she   collected   the sealed   exhibits   of   the   victim   vide   seizure   memo   Ex.   PW9/A. whereas PW­7 doctor stated that she had given the exhibits to 22 lady constable. On the other hand, PW­8 SI C.P. Singh stated that  doctor  handed  over the  exhibits  to  IO  SI  Pooja.  However, PW­9   Ct.   Vishu   stated   that   exhibits   were   handed   over   to   him and he produced the same before IO SI Pooja Pandey.

(vii) As per IO PW­13, she sent rukka from hospital at 11.45 p.m. on the basis of the statement of mother of the victim but this is the time when the FIR was already registered in police station and rukka and copy of FIR was sent back to the IO at the spot by duty officer. 

Mere fact that IO PW­13 did not remember the exact timings when she reached at the spot, what was the number of the vehicle in which she reached   spot,  at   what  time   site  plan   was   prepared   by her,   at  what time exhibits were deposited in Malkhana through PW­4, when took back her seal etc. are not so relevant to reject the prosecution case. Number of police officials including the IO fully proved various aspects of investigation done in connection with the case from recording the FIR till filing the chargesheet and nothing material has come in their cross examination to dispute the correctness of the proceedings or to show   that   any   material   manipulation   was   done   in   order   to   falsely implicate the accused in the case. 

In   view   of   the   above   discussions,   it   is   hereby   held   that prosecution has fully proved the case beyond doubt and all the charges framed   against   accused   persons   are   established.   The   testimony   of   the victim coupled with FSL/DNA report fully proved that penetrative sexual assault was committed upon victim by the accused though it was of very 23 small in degree. Mere fact that hymen of the victim was found not torned or there was no swelling or bruises on vaginal area itself is not sufficient to   hold   that   offence   was   not   committed.   Furthermore,   presumptions under   section   29   and   30   of   POCSO   Act   are   also   exists   against   the accused which he had failed to rebut. Accordingly, the accused is hereby convicted   for   offence   of   rape,   criminal   intimidation   punishable   under section 376 and 506 IPC along with section 6 of POCSO Act. Let he be heard on point of sentence.

Digitally signed by ASHWANI
                                                 ASHWANI            KUMAR SARPAL
                                                                    Location: Karkardooma Courts,
                                                 KUMAR SARPAL       Delhi
                                                                    Date: 2017.09.13 11:53:46 +0530

Dated­13­9­2017.                                  (Ashwani Kumar Sarpal)
                                                   Addl. Sessions Judge­1.