Reena v. State of Haryana and Anr

CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :1o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

o o oINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo o o o o oooooooAToCHANDIGARHo o o oo o o o o o CRM-14485-2018ooin/ando CRM-A-723-MA-2018o o o o o o o o DateoofoDecision:16.11.2023o o o R****o o o o o o o o o o ,Appellanto Versuso StateoofoHaryanaoandoanotheroo o o o o o o o o o ...oRespondentso o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoLISAoGILLo o o HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoRITUoTAGOREo o Present:oo Mr.oHarshoMehla,oAdvocateo(AmicusoCuriae)oo o o o o forotheoappellant.o o o o o ****o o RITUoTAGORE,oJo o o o o o

1.ooo o Appellant-applicanto'R'o(nameoisoscreenedoasoperodirectionsogiveno inoStateoofoKarnatakaoVs.oPuttaraja,o2004o(1)oR.C.R.o(Criminal)o113),oseekso leaveotooappealoagainstojudgmentodatedo22.09.2017opassedoinoaoSessionsoCaseo No.80oofo2017otitledo'Stateovs.oSandeep'obearingoFIRoNo.02odatedo11.01.2017,o underoSectionso452,o376oando506oIPCoregisteredoatoPoliceoStation,oMohana,o Sonipat,o byo learnedo Additionalo Sessionso Judge/Specialo Judge,o Sonipat,o acquittingorespondent-accusedo(Sandeep)ofromotheochargesoframedoagainstohim.oo

2.oo o Briefofactsoofotheocaseoareoasofollows:oo o o Thatoonotheonightobetweeno14/15.12.2016,oappellant-applicanto'R',o alongowithoherochildren,owasosleepingoonotheoChaubarao(roofotop)oofoherohouse.o CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :2o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

Atothatotime,oSandeepoaliasoNinku,otheoaccusedoallegedlyotrespassedointoohero houseoandocommittedorapeouponoheroforcibly.oOnoraisingoalarm,oherofather-in-lawoattemptedotooapprehendotheoaccused,obutoheomanagedotooescapeobutoinotheo process,ohisomobileoandoParnao(clothocarriedotooinformallyocoverotheoheadoando forootheropurposes)ofellodownoatotheospot.ooItoisoallegedobyotheocomplainantothato whileoleavingotheospot,oaccusedothreatenedotookilloher,oifosheodaredotoodiscloseo theoincidentotooanyone.o

3.oo o Basedoonotheocomplaintofiledobyoappellant-complainant,oFIRoforo commissionoofooffencesopunishableounderoSectionso452,o376oando506oIPC,o1860o wasoregisteredoatoP.S.Mohana,oSonipat,oagainstotheoaccused.oTheopoliceotookoupo investigation,oarrestedotheoaccused,ointerrogatedohimoandopreparedositeoplanoofo placeoofooccurrenceoonohisodemarcation.oTheocomplainantoandoaccusedowereo subjectedotoomedicaloexaminationoincludingoDNAoexamination.oStatementoofo complainantounderoSectiono164oCr.P.C.owasorecordedoalongowithostatementsoofo theowitnesses.ooUponocompletionoofoinvestigation,opoliceosubmittedotheofinalo reportounderoSectiono174oCr.P.C./challanoagainstotheoaccused.ooooo

4.ooo o TheocommittaloCourtosuppliedocopiesoofocharge-sheet,ofreeoofocosto tootheoaccused,oasoprovidedounderoSectiono207oCr.P.C.oandocommittedotheocaseo tooCourtoofoSessionsoandoalsooforwardedotheoaccusedoforotrialovideoorderodatedo

08.03.2017.o

5.oo o LearnedoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge/SpecialoJudge,oSonipat,ofindingo aoprimaofacieocaseoagainstotheoaccusedobasedoonoevidenceoonorecord,oframedo chargeso againsto himo foro commissiono ofo offenceso punishableo undero Sectiono 376/452/o506oIPC,otoowhichoheopleadedonotoguiltyoandoclaimedotrial.o CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :3o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

6.ooooooooooooooooooProsecutionoexaminedo15owitnessesoinooraloevidenceoandoalsooledo documentaryo evidenceo aso detailedo ino theo impugnedo judgmento ando thereaftero closedotheoevidenceoonobehalfoofotheoprosecution.o

7.o o TheoaccusedowasoexaminedounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C.obyoputtingo allotheoincriminatingoevidenceothatoappearedoagainstohimoinotheoprosecutionocaseo too whicho heo pleadedo hiso falseo complicityo ando innocence,o however,o ledo noo evidenceotoosupportohisodefence.o

8.oo o oOno assessmento ofo evidence,o learnedo trialo Courto observedo thatooo prosecutionofailedotooproveotheochargeoofocriminalotrespassoandorape.oFirstly,o thereowasounexplainedodelayoofooneomonthoinolodgingotheocomplaintoagainstotheo accused.oSecondly,ocomplainant/victimoherselfodidonotosupportotheoallegationso raisedo byo hero againsto theo accusedo ando eveno retractedo fromo them.o Even,o hero husbando(PW3),otoowhomotheocomplainantoallegedlyodisclosedotheoincident,odido notosupportotheoprosecutionocase.oBasedoonotheseogrounds,olearnedotrialoCourto acquittedo theo accusedo ofo chargeso framedo againsto him.o Furthermore,o ito waso observedothatocomplainantoknowinglyotenderedofalseoandofabricatedoevidenceo againstotheoaccused,ointendingoforoitotoobeousedoinotheoproceedings.oAsoaoresult,ooo learnedotrialoCourtoalsooissuedodirectionotooinitiateoproceedingsounderoSectiono 344oCr.P.C.oagainstotheoappellant.o

9.oo o Aggrievedo witho findingso ofo learnedo trialo Court,ooooooooooooooooooo applicant-appellantohasofiledotheopresentoapplicationoseekingoleaveotooappealoforo reversalo ofo findingso recordedo ino theo impugnedo judgmento ando prayedo foro convictionoofotheoaccusedoforocommissionoofooffencesochargedoagainstohim.o

10.oo o LearnedoAmicusoCuriaeowhileoassistingotheoCourtosubmittedothato althoughotheocomplainanto(PW-2)oandoherohusbando(PW-3)ohaveonotosupportedo CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :4o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

theoprosecutionoversion,obutoRaghubiroSingh,ofather-in-lawoofotheocomplainanto (PW-14),oanoeyeowitnessohasosupportedoallegationsoagainstotheoaccusedoprovingo commissiono ofo offenceo punishableo undero Sectionso 376,o 452o ando 506o IPC.o Medicalo evidence,o statemento ofo complainanto recordedo undero Sectiono 164o Cr.P.C.o ando othero evidenceo collectedo duringo courseo ofo investigation,o proveo commissionoofosaidooffencesobyotheoaccused.oLearnedotrialoCourtooverlookedo materialoevidenceoonorecord.ooPrayeroisothusomadeotooreassessotheoevidence.o Learnedocounselohowever,oinformedothatoproceedingsosooinitiatedoagainstotheo complainantounderoSectiono344oCr.P.C.ohaveobeenodisposedoofoonoacceptanceoofo theocomplainantotoopayoaofineoofoRs.500/-.ooPhotocopyoofocertifiedoorderodatedo

20.04.2019o furnishedo ino Courto todayo iso takeno ono record,o subjecto too justo exceptions.oAoprayeroisomadeotoodecideotheoappealoinolightoofotheofactsoando circumstances.oo

11.oo o Heard.oWeohaveogoneothroughofindingsoofolearnedotrialoCourtoando theorecordowithoableoassistanceoofolearnedoAmicusoCuriae.o

12.oo o Complainanto(PW-2),oinitiallyoallegedothatoaccusedocommittedotheo offenceo ofo criminalo trespasso byo unlawfullyo enteringo intoo hero houseo duringo interveningonightoofo14/15.12.2016,owhenosheoandoherochildrenowereosleepingoono theoroofotopo(Chaubara)oofoherohouse,owithointentionotoocommitoanooffenceoofo rapeo ando heo theno forciblyo committedo rapeo upono her.o Allegedly,o wheno complainanto(PW-2)oraisedoalarm,oherofather-in-lawo(PW-14)orespondedotootheo sameoandoattemptedotooapprehendotheoaccused,ohowever,oheomanagedotooescape.o Inotheoprocess,ohisomobileophoneoandoParnaofellodownoatotheospot.oSubsequently,o complainantodisclosedotheoincidentotooherohusbandoandoreportedoitotoopoliceoforo CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :5o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

13.o o ooToosupportotheocharge,oprosecutionoapartofromocomplainanto(PW-2)oandoherohusbando(PW-3)oexamined:oL-ASIoRanio(PW-15),otheoinvestigatingo officero ofo theo case.o Sheo provedo theo documents,o rougho siteo plano ofo placeo ofo occurrenceo(Ex.PW-15/A);oMLRo(Ex.PW-7/A)oofovictim;oapplicationo(Ex.PW-10/A)o movedo foro recordingo statemento ofo victimo undero Sectiono 164o Cr.P.C.;o statementoofovictimounderoSectiono164Cr.P.C.o(Ex.PW-2/C);odemarcationomemoo (Ex.PW-1/A);omemoooforecoveryoofobloodoslidesoofoaccusedoandooneosealedo parcelocontainingounderwearoofoaccusedoalongwithosampleosealo(Ex.PW-5/A);o memoo(Ex.PW-3/B);oapplicationo(Ex.PW-2/B);oscaledositeoplano(Ex.PW-4/A);oo crimeosceneoreporto(Ex.PW-9/A);oapplicationso(Ex.PW-15/CoandoEx.PW-15/D),o collectedobyoheroduringocourseoofoinvestigationoofotheocase.oLC-Reenao(PW-1)o ando Sonuo (PW-5)o remainedo associatedo witho investigatingo officero (PW-15)o providedonecessaryocorroborationotootheostatementoofoI.O.owithorespectotootheo stepsotakenobyoheroinotheoinvestigationoofotheocase.oEASIoRajeshoKumaro(PW-4)o provedotheoscaledositeoplano(Ex.PW-4/A)oalongowithoitsomarginalonoteso(Ex.PW-4/B)o ofo theo placeo ofo occurrence,o preparedo ono demarcationo ofo theo victim/complainant.oEASIoVinodo(PW-6)odepositedotheocaseopropertyoofothiso caseowithoFSL.oDr.Tamannao(PW-7)oprovedoMLRoofotheocomplainanto(Ex.PW-7/B).o ASIo Rakesho (PW-8)o provedo theo formalo FIRo (Ex.PW-8/A)o ando itso endorsemento(Ex.PW-8/B).oDr.oRandeepoKumaro(PW-9)oprovedotheocrimeosceneo reporto (Ex.PW-9/A).o Ms.o Karunao Sharmao (PW-10)o provedo statemento ofo theo complainantorecordedounderoSectiono164oCr.P.C.o(Ex.PW-2/C)oandocertificateo (Ex.PW-10/B)o alongwitho ziminio orderso (Ex.PW-10/Co too Ex.PW-10/E).o ASIo KuldeepoSingh,oMHCo(PW-11),oretainedotheocaseopropertyoofotheocaseowithohim.o CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :6o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

Inspectoro Veero Bhano (PW-12)o provedo reporto undero Sectiono 173o Cr.P.C.o Dr.o Sunnyo(PW-13)oprovedotheoMLRoofotheoaccusedo(Ex.PW-13/B).o

14.o o Complainant/victimo appearedo aso PW-2,o buto dido noto supporto theo allegationso sheo hado previouslyo madeo againsto theo accusedo ino hero complainto (Ex.PW-2/A)obeforeotheoPolice.oSheoexplicitlyostatedothatoaccusedoonotrial,odido notocommitorapeouponoher.oSheoalsooclaimedoaccusedowasonotoknownotooheroando deniedothatoanyothingoasomentionedoinoEx.oPW-2/Aohadohappenedowithoher.ooAsoao result,o sheo waso declaredo hostile/uncooperativeo ando learnedo Stateo counselo extensivelyocross-examinedotheocomplainantoconfrontingoherowithodetailsoofohero complainto(Ex.PW-2/A).oHowever,osheodidonotoacceptoitsocontentsoandoinsteado allegedo thato policeo hado obtainedo hero signatureso ono blanko papers.o Complainant/victimofurtherodeposedothatoherostatemento(Ex.PW-2/C)owasomadeo underopressureofromotheopoliceoandothatoaccusedohadoneitheroenteredoherohouseo norocommittedorapeoonoher.oSheorefutedotheosuggestionothatosheohadoreachedoao compromiseowithotheoaccused,odenyingoitotoobeoaoreasonoforonotosupportingohero previousostatemento(Ex.PW2/C)omadeobeforeotheoPolice.oHowever,owhenoaskedo aboutovoluntaryonatureoofoherostatementomadeoinotheoCourt,osheoaffirmedothatosheo madeostatementovoluntarily,owithoutoanyopressureoandocoercionofromoanyopersono oroaccused.oo

15.o o Davendero(PW-3),otheohusbandoofocomplainantowasoalsooconfrontedo witho hiso statemento (Ex.PW-3/A)o giveno too policeo regardingo theo allegedo occurrence.oHowever,oheodidonotosupportotheosame,ostatingothatoheoneveromadeo anyo sucho statemento (Ex.PW-3/A)o too police.o Instead,o heo claimedo thato policeo obtainedohisosignaturesoonoblankopapers.ooPW-3ostatedothatoalthoughoheoknewotheo accused,oheodidonotocommitorapeouponohisowife.oFurthermore,oneitherohisowifeo CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :7o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

(complainant)o noro hiso fathero (PW-4)o disclosedo anyo factso abouto theo allegedo occurrence.oHeocategoricallyodeniedohandingooverotheomobileophoneoandoParnao ofoaccusedotootheopoliceoasodocumentedoinomemoo(Ex.PW-3/B).ooHeonegatedotheo suggestionothatohisowifeo (complainant)ohado lodgedo theo complainto (Ex.PW-2)o withotheopoliceoconcerningotheooccurrence.oPW-3oassertedothatopoliceoofficialso obtainedo hiso signatureso ono complainto (Ex.PW-2/A)o undero duress.o Heo deniedo havingodeposedofalselyodueotoocompromiseowithotheoaccusedoandohisofamilyo members.o

16.oo o Raghbiro Singho (PW-14),o father-in-lawo ofo victimo supportedo theo prosecutiono versiono ando alsoo deposedo thato witnesseso (PW-2o ando PW-3)o hado givenotheirostatementsounderopressureofromotheoaccusedoandohisofamilyomembers.ooo

17.o o However,oinoouroconsideredoopinionolearnedotrialoCourtoadequatelyo dealtowithotheopleaoofothreatoraisedobyofather-in-lawoofotheocomplainanto(PW-14)o byocorrectlyoconsideringotheofactothatoneitherotheocomplainantooroherohusbando filedoanyoapplicationoduringopendencyoofotrialoallegingothatoaccusedoorohisofamilyo membersohadoeverothreatenedooropressurizedothemotoodeposeoinofavouroofotheo accusedo byo retractingo fromo theiro initialo allegationso madeo too Police.o Sucho situationowasoneveroeverobroughtotoonoticeoofolearnedotrialoCourtoatoanyostageo either.o Moreover,o statemento ofo Raghbiro Singho (PW-14)o iso clearlyo self-contradictoryo ando unsubstantiatedo byo anyo evidenceo ono record.o Heo initiallyo deposedo thato heo sawo accusedo committingo rapeo ono theo complainanto buto latero statedothatocomplainanto(PW-2)odisclosedotheoincidentotoohim.oHowever,othereo wasonoomentionobyotheocomplainantothatosheodisclosedotheoincidentotooherofather-in-law;o instead,o sheo deniedo thato sucho ano incidento occurred.o Additionally,o husbandoofocomplainanto(PW-3)oalsoodeniedobeingoinformedoofotheoincidentobyo CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :8o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

hiso father.o Learnedo trialo Courto consideringo theo conflictingo statementso ofo theo materialowitnessesoandolackoofocorroborationofromootheroattendingocircumstanceso andosupportingoevidenceocorrectlyorefusedotoorelyouponotheostatementoofoRaghbiro (PW-14).o Learnedo trialo Courto foundo thato neithero theo complainanto noro hero husbandogaveoanyoinculpatoryostatementoagainstotheoaccusedosubstantiatingotheo chargesoagainstohim.oo

18.o o LearnedotrialoCourtoalsoodealtowithootheroevidenceoappearingoono record,osuchoasorecoveryoofoaomobileophoneoandoParnaoallegedlyobelongingotoo theoaccused.ooLearnedotrialoCourtoobservedothatotheosaidorecoveryoisoshroudedoino doubtsoforotheofollowingoreasons:ofirstly,oitowasoaffectedoaftero27odaysoofotheo allegedooccurrence,ooowhereasoperoprosecution'soclaimobothoarticlesohadofallenoato theo spoto wheno accusedo allegedlyo madeo ano attempto too escapeo fromo theo spot.o Secondly,ohusbandoofotheocomplainanto(PW-3),oaowitnessotoorecovery,odidonoto supportotheorecoveryoinoquestion.oLearnedotrialoCourtoalsooobservedothatoI.O.o failedotooconnectotheosaidomobileoandoaoParnaowithotheoaccusedobyobringingoanyo evidenceoofoownershipoinothisoregard.oItowasoalsoonotedothatoSonuo(PW-5)oano associateo ofo I.O.o admittedo thato duringo theo investigationo noo materialo waso collectedoregardingotheoownershipoofoaomobileoandoaoParna.oTheocrimeosceneo reporto(PW-9/oA)oalsoofailedotooestablishoanyoincriminatingocircumstanceoagainsto theoaccusedolinkingohimowithotheocommissionoofooffences.ooDr.oRandeepoKumaro (PW-9)owhoovisitedotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoandopreparedocrimeosceneoreporto (Ex.PW-9-A),o admittedo thato heo collectedo nothingo fromo theo spoto duringo inspectingotheospotoono11.01.2017owhichowasoaomonthoafterotheooccurrence.oo

19.o o Statemento ofo Dr.o Tamannao (PW-7)o alsoo failedo too provideo anyo supportotooversionoofotheocomplainant.oSheotestifiedothatonooinjuryowasofoundo CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :9o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

presento ono theo persono ofo complainanto duringo hero medico-legalo examination.o Complainantowasoreferredoforoultrasoundoandogynaecologicaloexaminationobuto noosuchoreportoisoonorecord.oNoomedicaloevidenceohasobeenoprovedoonorecordotoo indicateo commissiono ofo offenceo punishableo undero Sectiono 376o IPCo byo theo accused.oAdditionally,oDr.oTamannaostatedothatovictimodidonotodiscloseotheonameo ofooffenderotooher.o

20.o o Furthermore,o complainto againsto accusedo waso filedo aftero unexplainedo ando inordinateo delayo ofo oneo montho fromo allegedo occurrence,o makingocomplainant'sonarrativeohighlyodoubtful.oo

21.o o Ino groundso ofo appeal,o avermento haso beeno raisedo byo appellant-complainantothatosheodeposedobeforeotheolearnedotrialoCourtounderopressureoando duressofromotheofamilyoofoaccused.oHowever,osheohasoconvenientlyonotorevealedo theonameoofotheofamilyomember(s),owhooallegedlyoissuedoanyothreatotooher,onoro anyodateoandotimeoofoallegedothreatohasobeenogivenobyoher.oNoodocumentosuchoaso complaintomadeotootheoPoliceoorobeforeotheolearnedotrialoCourtohasobeenoplacedo ono recordo too substantiateo hero allegationo ofo threato fromo theo accusedo ando hiso familyomembers.oRatheroduringoherotestimony,owhenoaskedoaboutoanyopressureo fromo accusedo oro anyo person,o sheo vehementlyo deniedo theo same.o Eveno hero husbandonegatedothreatoofoanyosortofromotheoaccusedoorohisofamilyomembers.oIto appearsothatoappellant-complainantotookotheopleaoofothreatobyoaccused/hisofamilyo memberso merelyo too evadeo proceedingso undero Sectiono 344o Cr.P.C.o initiatedo againstoherobyotheotrialoCourt.o

22.o o Havingo consideredo allo factso ando circumstances,o ito iso heldo thato learnedotrialoCourtometiculouslyoconsideredoallotheofactsoandocircumstancesoando correctlyodealtowithotheoprosecutionoevidence.oItoisorightlyoobservedobyolearnedo CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :10o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

trialoCourtothatomaterialowitnessesodidonotosupportoallegationsoofochargeoagainsto theo accused.o Additionally,o othero evidenceo collectedo duringo courseo ofo investigation,o failedo too substantiateo theo prosecutiono caseo beyondo reasonableo doubtoleadingotoorightfuloacquittaloofotheoaccused.oo

23.o o LearnedotrialoCourtoafteroassessingotheoevidence,ocameotooaodefiniteo conclusiono thato complainant-victimo (PW-2)o intentionallyo tenderedo falseo testimonyothatocanobeousedoduringotheocaseoproceedings.oConsequently,olearnedo trialo Courto orderedo initiationo ofo proceedingso againsto hero undero Sectiono 344o Cr.P.C.ooo

24.o o Aophotocopyoofoorderodatedo20.04.2019opassedoinoCRM-482-2017o titledoasoStateoVs.oSeemaorevealsothatocomplainantopleadedoguiltyoandoagreedotoo payofineoofoRs.500oinotheoproceedingsoinitiatedoagainstoherounderoSectiono344o Cr.P.C.ooItoisothusoapparentothatocomplainantofiledotheoinstantoappealosolelyotoo evadeo Sectiono 344o Cr.P.Co proceedings.o o Ito iso alsoo noteworthyo thato thisoo applicationo seekingo leaveo too appeal/o appealo haso beeno filedo ono behalfo ofo complainantobyotheosameocounselowhoowasorepresentingoherobeforeotheolearnedo trialo Court.o Aftero filingo ofo thiso applicationo seekingo leaveo too appealo ono

08.01.2018,ononeohadoappearedoonobehalfoofoapplicant,oonovariousooccasionsotillo

11.02.2019o wheno theo mattero waso adjournedo ato requesto ono behalfo ofo learnedo arguingo counselo foro theo applicant-appellanto ono theo groundo thato heo iso noto available.o Perusalo ofo theo fileo revealso thato thereaftero againo noneo appearedo ono behalfo ofo theo applicanto ono twoo occasionso ando ono 13.01.2020,o noticeo ofo theo applicationoseekingocondonationoofodelayoofo42odaysowasoissuedobyotheoCo-ordinateo Bencho necessarilyo beingo unawareo ofo ordero datedo 20.04.2019o whicho alreadyostoodopassedoinoCRMoNo.482oofo2017.oItowasonotedoono17.04.2023othato CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :11o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

noticeocouldonotobeoissuedotoorespondentsoasoprocessofeeohasonotobeenofiled.o However,oitowasodirectedothatoneedfulobeodoneowithinotheonextotwooweeksoando pursuanto thereto,o fresho noticeo beo issuedo too theo respondentso foro 08.08.2023.o Learnedocounseloforotheoapplicantowasodirectedotoobeonotifiedoofotheosaidoorder.o However,o ono 08.08.2023,o noneo againo appearedo ono behalfo ofo theo applicant-appellanto ando Mr.o Harsho Mehla,o Advocateo ono theo Legalo Aido Panelo waso appointedoasoAmicusoCuriaeotooassistothisoCourt.oItoisolearnedoAmicusowhoowhileo assistingousoinotheomatteroproducedophotocopyoofoorderodatedo20.04.2019opassedo inoCRMoNo.482oofo2017.oKeepingoinoviewotheofactsoandocircumstancesoasoabove,o ito iso apparento thato prosecutiono haso indeedo failedo too proveo itso caseo beyondo reasonableo doubto byo leadingo cogento ando reliableo evidence.o Furthermore,o complainantohasoclearlyopleadedoguiltyoinotheoproceedingsounderoSectiono344o Cr.P.C.owhileoagreeingotoopayotheofineoofoRs.500/-.o

25.o o Ito iso ao settledo positiono thato ano ordero ofo acquittalo iso noto too beoooooooooo interferedo witho lightlyo becauseo presumptiono ofo innocenceo ofo theo accusedo isoooo furthero strengthenedo byo acquittal.o Interferenceo iso calledo foro onlyo underooooooooo compellingocircumstances,owhereoimpugnedofindingsoareoperverse,ounreasonableo andoconvincingomaterialoonorecordoisoignoredounjustifiablyobyotheotrialoCourt.oo ReferenceoinothisoregardocanobeomadeotoojudgmentoofoHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourto ino'MahamadkhanoNathekhanovs.oStateoofoGujarat'o2014o(14)oSCCo589.o o26.o o Thereoisoaodelayoofo42odaysoinofilingoofothisoapplicationoseekingo leaveotooappeal.oAsotheomatterohasobeenoadjudicatedouponoonomerits,oquestionoofo delayoinofilingotheoapplicationoisorenderedoacademic.oApplicationoisodisposedoofo CRM-14485-2018oin/ando :12o 2023:PHHC:148979-DB

27.o o Learnedocounsel/amicusocuriaeoisounableotoopointooutoanyoinfirmity,o illegalityooroirregularityooroanyocompellingoorosubstantialoground,ocallingoforo interferenceo foro settingo asideo judgmento datedo 22.09.2017o passedo byo learnedo SpecialoJudge,oSonipatowhichohasobeenorenderedoonoproperoappreciationoofofactso andoevidence.o

28.o o Noootheroargumentowasoraised.o

29.o o Keepingoinoviewotheoaboveodiscussion,ojudgmentodatedo22.09.2017o passedo byo learnedo Specialo Judge,o Sonipato acquittingo theo accusedo ofo chargeso framedo againsto him,o iso upheld.o Consequently,o applicationo seekingo leaveo toooooo appealoisodismissed.oPendingomiscellaneousoapplications,oifoany,ois/areodisposedo ofoaccordingly.oooo

30.oo o Weo recordo ouro appreciationo foro assistanceo renderedo byo learnedo AmicusoCuriae.oo o o o o (LISAoGILL)oo o o (RITUoTAGORE)oo o o ooooooooooooooJUDGEoo o o o ooooooJUDGEo o o o Novembero16,o2023o Rimpalo o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :oo Yes/Noo o o Whetheroreportableo o o:oo Yes/Noo