State of Pb v. Kaka Ram

o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABo&oHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo 323o o o o o o o o o o o o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o Dateoofodecision:oAugusto01,o2025o o STATEoOFoPUNJABo ...Appellanto Versuso o KAKAoRAMoANDoANOTHERo ...Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoMANJARIoNEHRUoKAULo o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoH.S.oGREWALo o Present:o Mr.oMohitoKapoor,oSr.oDAG,oPunjaboando o o Mr.oAmitoRana,oSr.oDAG,oPunjab.o o o o Mr.oTapanoMasta,oAmicusoCuriaeo o o forotheorespondent.o o MANJARIoNEHRUoKAUL,oJ.o o o o o o

1.o o Theo Stateo ofo Punjabo haso preferredo theo presento appealo challengingo theo judgmento ofo acquittalo datedo 23.11.2004o passedo byo theo learnedoSessionsoJudge,oPatiala,oinocaseoFIRoNo.99odatedo20.09.2023oundero Sectionso 376,o 506,o 363/34o ofo theo Indiano Penalo Code,o 1860,o registeredo ato Policeo Stationo Julkan,o Districto Patiala,o wherebyo theo accusedo personso i.e.o KakaoRamoandoRajoKumaro@oRajuowereoacquittedoofochargesoframedoagainsto them.o CASEoOFoTHEoPROSECUTIONo

2.o o Theocaseoofotheoprosecution,oasounfoldedoduringotheotrial,omayo beobrieflyosummarizedoasofollows:o-o I.o o Onotheoeveningoofo19.09.2003,otheocomplainant-PinkyoRaniowaso atooherooresidenceoalongowithoherohusbandoandootheiro13oyear-oldodaughtero(theoo o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-2-oooo o victim).oAtoaroundothatotime,oaccusedoRajoKumaro@oRajuo(respondentoNo.2)o visitedotheocomplainant'sohouseoandorequestedoheroassistanceoinosubmittingo pensiono relatedo documentso foro hiso mother.o Heo approachedo ino thiso regardo becauseotheocomplainantowasoservingoasotheoPresidentoofotheoLocaloMahilao MandaloandowasoknownotooregularlyovisitoGovernmentooffices.oInoresponse,o theocomplainantoinformedoRajoKumaro@oRajuothatopensionorelatedocampso wereonowobeingoorganizedoandoadvisedohimotoosubmitotheodocumentsothrougho sucho ao camp.o Followingo thiso conversation,o Rajo Kumaro @o Rajuo lefto theo premises.oo II.o o Thereafter,otheocomplainantoresumedowatchingotelevision,owhileo herohusbandowentointootheokitchenotooheatomilk.oMeanwhile,otheovictimobegano applyingomedicinaloointmentotooheromother'soknees.oAfterosomeotime,otheo complainantodozedooffotoosleep.o III.o o Whenosheoawoke,osheonoticedothatoherodaughterowasonoolongero inotheohouse.oUponoinquiringofromoherohusbandoaboutotheowhereaboutsoofotheo child,oheorespondedothatosheomightohaveogoneotooplayoatotheohouseoofohero uncle-OmoPrakash,olocatedonearby.oWhileotheocomplainantoandoherohusbando wereoawaitingotheoreturnoofotheovictim,osheoreturnedohome,ovisiblyodistressedo andocrying.oSheowasowearingoonlyoheroshirt;obothoherosalwaroandochunniowereo missing.o o o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-3-oooo o IV.o o Uponobeingoconsoledoandoquestionedobyoheroparents,otheovictimo disclosedothatosoonoafteroRajoKumaro@oRajuohadoleftotheirohouse,oheohado forciblyo abductedo hero whileo sheo waso playingo outside.o oAccordingo too theo victim,oRajoKumaro@oRajuohadogaggedoherobyoplacingoaohandooveroheromoutho andodraggedoheroawayofromotheogateoofotheirohouse.oHeothenotookoherotowardso aonearbyoschool,owhereoaccused-KakaoRamo(respondentoNo.1)owasoalreadyo present.oThere,obothoaccusedopersonsosexuallyoassaultedoandocommittedorapeo uponoher.oTheovictimostatedothatoalthoughosheoattemptedotooresistoandoescape,o heroeffortsowereoinovain.oo V.o o Followingo theo allegedo sexualo assault,o botho accusedo fledo theo scene,oissuingothreatsotootheovictim,owarningoherothatoifosheodisclosedotheo incidentotooanyone,osheowouldofaceodireoconsequences.oo VI.o o Upono learningo abouto theo incidento fromo theiro daughter,o theo complainantoandoherohusbandoimmediatelyoproceededotowardsotheoplaceoofo occurrence.oUponoreaching,otheyoobservedobothotheoaccusedopersonsohastilyo walkingoaway.oOnonoticingotheopresenceoofotheocomplainantoandoherohusband,o theo accusedo personso rano away.o Ito waso alsoo notedo thato theo victim'so lowero garments,ospecificallyoherosalwaroandochunniowereomissingofromotheospot.o VII.o o Subsequently,o theo complainanto ando hero husbando visitedo theo houseoofotheoVillageoSarpanch,oandoattemptedotoocontactootheroco-villagerso foroassistance.oHowever,odueotootheolateohouroofotheonight,otheyowereounableo toosecureoanyohelp.oOnotheofollowingomorning,otheocomplainant,oalongowithoo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-4-oooo o hero husbando ando theo victim,o approachedo theo policeo ando reportedo theo occurrence.o VIII.o o Theo complainant'so statemento (Ex.PA)o waso recordedo byo SIo BalkaroSingh.ooBasedoooonooothisooostatement,oooaoooformaloFIRo(Ex.PA/2)owaso registered.oThereafter,oSIoBalkaroSingh,oaccompaniedobyoSurjitoSingh,ovisitedo theositeoandopreparedoaoroughosketchoofotheoplaceoofooccurrenceo(Ex.PM).o IX.o o Botho theo accusedo wereo apprehendedo ono 22.09.2003.o Duringo interrogation,o accusedo Rajo Kumaro @o Rajuo madeo ao disclosureo statemento (Ex.PQ),owhereinoheostatedothatoheohadoconcealedotheosalwaroandochunnioofo theovictimobeneathoaoheapoofobricksoandoofferedotoogetotheosameorecovered.o Actingo upono theo saido disclosure,o theo investigatingo officero effectedo theo recoveryo ofo salwaro ando chunni.o Theseo articleso wereo seizedo througho ao recoveryo memoo (Ex.PQ/1)o ando ao siteo plano ofo theo placeo ofo recoveryo waso preparedo(Ex.PQ/2).o X.o o Upono completiono ofo theo investigation,o policeo reporto waso presented,oandotheoaccusedowereoformallyochargedoandocommittedotoostando trial.oChargesowereoframedoagainstothemounderoSectionso376,o506,o363/34oofo theoIPC.oTheoaccusedopleadedonotoguiltyoandoclaimedotrial.oo XI.o o Inosupportoofoitsocase,otheoprosecutionoexaminedoaototaloofonineo witnesses.oTheovictimoherselfoappearedoasoPW1,oandotheocomplainanto(hero mother-PinkioRani)owasoexaminedoasoPW2.oPW3-Dr.oS.S.oOberoiotestifiedo regardingotheomedicaloexaminationoofotheovictimoconductedoono20.09.2003.oo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-5-oooo o PW4-Dr.o Meenakshio Guptao tenderedo hero reporto (Ex.PD)o concerningo theo determinationoofotheoageoofotheovictim,oopiningothatotheovictimowasobetweeno 13-15o yearso ofo ageo ato theo relevanto time.o PW5-Dr.o Manpreeto Kauro alsoo deposedo thato sheo hado medicallyo examinedo theo victimo ono 20.09.2003,o collectedonecessaryovaginaloswabsoduringotheoexamination,oandoforwardedo themoforochemicaloanalysis.oo XI.o o Theoinvestigatingoofficer,oSIoBalkaroSinghoappearedoasoPW9oando affirmedotheorecordingoofotheocomplainant'sostatemento(Ex.PA)oasowelloaso otheroproceduralostepsotakenoduringotheoinvestigation.oo XII.o o AsoperotheoReportoofotheoForensicoScienceoLaboratoryo(Ex.PG),o theo caseo propertyo sento foro chemicalo examinationo testedo positive,o corroboratingotheosexualoassault.o XIII.o o Upono closureo ofo prosecutiono evidence,o theo accusedo wereo examinedounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C.oInotheirostatements,otheoaccusedodeniedo alloincriminatingocircumstancesoputotoothem,oandoallegedofalseoimplicationoino theopresentocase.o XIV.o o Ino theiro statementso recordedo undero Sectiono 313o Cr.P.C.,o theo accusedoassertedothatoaodoctor,owhoowasoaotenantoinotheoshopoownedobyotheo parentsoofotheovictim,ooperatedohisopracticeoinocloseoproximityotootheohouseoofo theovictim.oAccordingotootheoaccused,otheovictimowasoinvolvedoinoanoillicito relationshipowithotheosaidodoctor,oandowasoallegedlyocaughtored-handedowitho himoinsideotheoshop.oTheoaccusedoclaimedothatouponorecoveringotheoincidenceo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-6-oooo o they,o alongo witho othero co-villagers,o raisedo ao hueo ando cry,o whicho ledo too embarrassmentoforotheofamilyoofotheovictim.oConsequently,otheyoallegedothato ao falseo caseo waso foistedo upono themo byo theo complainanto aso ano acto ofo vengeance.o oXV.o o Ino supporto ofo theiro defence,o theo accusedo examinedo twoo witnesses.oDW1-ChananoSingh,oaodraftsmanoprovedoaoscaledomapo(Ex.DB)o reflectingotheorelevantolayoutoofotheoarea.oDW2-SIoBalbiroSingh,odeposedo regardingotheogeographicalolocationoandosurroundingsoofotheoallegedoplaceoofo occurrence.o XVI.o o Botho theo victimo ando theo complainant,o whileo deposingo duringo trial,ofullyosupportedotheocaseoofotheoprosecutionoinoallomaterialoparticulars.o However,odespiteo theo evidenceo adduced,o theo learnedotrialo Courto acquittedo bothoaccusedopersons,oholdingothatotheoprosecutionohadofailedotooestablishoitso caseoagainstothemobeyondoreasonableodoubt.o SUBMISSIONSo ONo BEHALFo OFo THEo STATEo TOo ASSAILo THEo IMPUGNEDoJUDGMENToOFoACQUITTALo

3.o o Ito haso beeno submittedo byo theo learnedo Stateo counselo thato theo impugnedojudgmentosuffersofromofundamental,olegaloandofactualoinfirmities,o ando reflectso ao totalo misappropriationo ofo facts,o whicho haso resultedo ino miscarriageo ofo justice.o Theo specifico submissionso madeo ino supporto ofo thiso challengeobyotheolearnedoStateocounseloareoasofollows:-o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-7-oooo o A.o o Misplacedo emphasiso ono minoro contradictionso ino theo testimoniesoofotheoprosecutionowitnesses:o i.o o TheofirstoandoforemostosubmissionoisothatotheolearnedotrialoCourto committedo ao graveo erroro ino placingo undueo relianceo ono minoro ando inconsequentialodiscrepanciesoinotheostatementsoofotheovictimoandoheromother,o PW2-PinkiooRani,ooparticularlyoowithoorespectootoootheooexactoolocationooofootheo occurrence.oLearnedoStateocounselocontendedothatosuchominoroinconsistencieso areonaturaloandodoonotodetractofromotheooverallocredibilityoandoconsistencyoofo theo coreo narrative,o especiallyo ino offenceso ofo sucho ao traumatico natureo involvingoaochild-victim.o ii.o o Theo testimonyo ofo theo victimo iso ofo unimpeachableo character,o havingo remainedo steadfasto ando consistento throughout,o ando standso dulyo corroboratedo byo theo versiono giveno byo theo complainanto ino theo FIR.o Furthermore,o theo surroundingo circumstanceso –o includingo medicalo ando forensico evidenceo –o lendo unassailableo supporto too theo occurrenceo ofo theo incidentoandotheoidentityoofotheoassailants.oTherefore,otheorelianceoplacedobyo theo learnedo trialo Courto ono minoro contradictionso too discardo theo entireo prosecutionocaseowasowhollyomisplacedoandolegallyountenable.o B.o o Corroborativeomedicaloevidenceoignored:o i.o o TheosecondosubmissionoofotheolearnedoStateocounselopertainsotoo theoerroneousofindingobyotheolearnedotrialoCourtothatonooinjuriesoindicativeoofo violenceowereofoundoonotheopersonoofotheovictim.oItowasostronglyourgedothatoo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-8-oooo o ono20.09.2003oatoabouto2op.m.,otheovictimowasomedicallyoexaminedobyoPW3-Dr.oS.S.oOberoi,owhoodocumentedomultipleoinjuriesosustainedobyotheovictim.o Theseoinjuriesowereoconsistentowithotheoassaultoandosubstantiatedotheoaccounto givenobyotheovictim.o ii.o o LearnedoStateocounselosubmittedothatotheolearnedotrialoCourt,oino completeodisregardoofothisovitalocorroborativeomedicaloevidence,oerroneouslyo concludedoothatootheoovictimohadonotobeenoassaulted.oThisoapproachoreflectedoao palpableo non-applicationo ofo mindo renderingo theo acquittalo perverseo ando unsustainable.o C.o o Baselessoinferenceodrawnofromodelayoinotheoregistrationoofotheo FIR:o i.o o LearnedoStateocounselofurtherosubmittedothatotheolearnedotrialo CourtoplacedounwarrantedoemphasisoonotheoallegedodelayoinolodgingotheoFIR.o Itowasocontendedothatotheoincidentotookoplaceoinotheolateoeveningohoursoofo

19.09.2003,oandotheoFIRowasopromptlyoregisteredoato9:45oa.m.otheofollowingo morningoono20.09.2003.oThus,otheoFIRowasolodgedowithinoaofewohoursoofotheo incidentoandocertainlyowithino24ohours,owhichocannot,obyoanyolegalostandard,o beoconstruedoasodelayed.o ii.o o Itowasoalsooarguedothatomultipleojudicialopronouncementsoareo repleteo witho settledo principleo thato especiallyo ino offenceso involvingo sexualo assault,oandothatotooouponoaominor,oevenosomeodelayoinolodgingotheoFIRodoeso notovitiateotheocaseoofotheoprosecution.oInotheopresentocase,otheopromptoo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-9-oooo o registrationoofoFIRonegatesoanyosuggestionoofofabricatedooroembellishment.o TheofindingoofotheolearnedotrialoCourtoinothisoaspectowas,otherefore,obotho factuallyoincorrect,oandoyetoagain,olegallyounsustainable.o D.o o Determinationo ofo theo ageo ofo theo victimo basedo ono medicalo evidence:o i.o o AocrucialosubmissionomadeobyotheolearnedoStateocounselowaso thato theo ageo ofo theo victim,o aso determinedo byo medicalo ando radiologicalo evidence,oconclusivelyoplacedoherowithinotheoageobracketoofoaominor.oPW4-Dr.oMeenakshioGuptaoconductedoaoradiologicaloexaminationoandoopinedotheo victimowasobetweeno13-15oyearsoofoage.oThisomedicalofinding,oinoconjunctiono withotheoconsistentoassertionoofotheoparentsoofotheovictimothatosheowaso13o yearsoold,oprovedobeyondoreasonableodoubtothatosheowasobelowo16oyearsoofo age.o ii.o o Despiteotheirobeingonoochallengeofromotheodefenceoduringocross-examinationo regardingo theo ageo ofo theo victim,o theo learnedo trialo Courto surprisinglyoproceededotoocastodoubtoonoherominorityowithoutoanyosubstantiveo basis.oThisoapproachowasoperverseoandoindicativeoofoaomiscarriageoofojustice.o E.o o FallaciousoobservationsobyotheolearnedotrialoCourtoregardingo theorecoveryoofotheoclothesoofotheovictim:o i.o o Anotheroerroneousoandounjustifiedoobservationobyotheolearnedo trialoCourt,oasoperotheolearnedoStateocounsel,opertainsotootheorecoveryoofotheo clothesoofotheovictim.oItowasonotedobyotheolearnedotrialoCourtothatotheorecoveryoo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-10-oooo o waso noto madeo ato theo instanceo ofo theo victimo buto pursuanto too ao disclosureo statemento madeo byo accusedo Rajo Kumaro @o Rajuo fromo ao heapo ofo bricks,o therebyotreatingoitoasoaosuspiciousocircumstance.o ii.o o LearnedoStateocounselostronglyoobjectedotoothisobyoarguingothato theoentireopremiseowasoillogicaloandofallacious.oFromotheoinception,otheocaseo ofotheoprosecutionowasothatotheovictimoreturnedohomeoinoaodistressedostate,o wearingoonlyoaoshirt,owhichoclearlyodemonstratesothatoheroremainingoclotheso wereonotoinoheropossession.oTheorecoveryoofotheoclothesofromotheolocationo disclosedobyotheoaccusedoinofactosupportedotheocaseoofotheoprosecution,orathero thanoweakeningoit.oTheoinferenceobyotheolearnedotrialoCourt,otherefore,owaso completelyocontraryotootheoweightoofotheoevidence.o F.o o Overlookingo corroborationo betweeno medical,o ocularo ando forensicoevidence:o i.o o ItowasofurtherosubmittedothatotheolearnedotrialoCourtocommittedoao seriousoerroroinoignoringotheoconsistentoandomutuallyocorroborativeonatureoofo theotestimonyoofotheovictim,otheomedicaloevidenceoandotheoFSLoReport.oTheo statemento ofo theo victimo waso noto onlyo cogento ando credibleo buto alsoo substantiatedo byo theo medicalo findingso ando theo forensico analysiso ofo theo recoveredo articles.o Despiteo theoclearo convergenceoofoocularo andoscientifico evidence,o theo learnedo trialo Courto unjustifiablyo disregardedo thiso bodyo ofo materialoandoproceededotooacquitotheoaccusedowithoutoassigningolegallyoo o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-11-oooo o sustainableo reasons.o Thiso selectiveo ando flawedo appreciationo ofo evidenceo clearlyounderminesotheoruleoofolaw.o G.o o Unwarrantedopresumptionoofofalseoimplication:o i.o o Lastly,o theo learnedo Stateo counselo furthero submittedo thato noo rationaloperson,oletoaloneobiologicaloparentsoofoaominorogirl,owouldoconcocto storyoofograveoandoirreversibleosocialoconsequencesotooplantoaofalseocaseoupono aoperson,oandothatotoo,oinvolvingorapeoallegationsouponoaochild.oo o o Inoviewoofotheoaboveosubmissions,oitowasoprayedobyotheolearnedo Stateocounselothatotheojudgmentoofoacquittalorenderedobyotheolearnedotrialo Courtobeosetoasideoasoitoisoclearlyovitiatedobyomisappropriationoofoevidence,o misapplicationo ofo lawo ando graveo perversityo ino findings.o Learnedo Stateo counselosubmittedothatotheolearnedotrialoCourtohadofailedotoodraworeasonableo inferencesofromotheounimpeachableotestimonyoofotheovictimoandosupportingo medicaloandoforensicoevidence,oresultingoinoaomanifestofailureoofojustice.o SUBMISSIONSoONoBEHALFoOFoTHEoRESPONDENT-ACCUSEDo

4.o o LearnedoAmicusoCuriaeoappearingoonobehalfoofotheorespondent-accused,owhileoopposingotheoappealofiledobyotheoStateoagainstotheiroacquittal,o stronglyourgedothatotheoimpugnedojudgmentopassedobyotheolearnedotrialoCourto doesonotocalloforoanyointerference,oasoitowasoaowell-reasonedoandothoroughlyo consideredo decisiono renderedo aftero dueo appreciationo ofo theo evidenceo ono record.oItowasosubmittedothatotheolearnedotrialoCourtometiculouslyoexaminedo theoprosecutionoevidenceoandorightlyoconcludedothatotheocaseoputoforthobyotheo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-12-oooo o prosecutionosufferedofromoseriousoinconsistencies,omaterialoomissions,oando evidentiaryo deficiencies,o whicho cumulativelyo renderedo theo storyo ofo theo prosecutionodoubtfuloandounworthyoofocredence.o

5.o o Theoprincipalosubmissionoadvancedobyotheolearnedocounselowaso thatotheotestimoniesoofotheovictimoandocomplainant,o(PW2-PinkioRani)owereo riddledowithocontradictionsoonomaterialoaspects,owhichowentotootheorootoofotheo matter.oTheseo inconsistencieso wereo neithero satisfactorilyo explainedo byo theo prosecutiononorosupportedobyoanyocredibleocorroboration.oTheolearnedotrialo Court,oitowasosubmitted,orightlyonoticedotheseocontradictionsoandoarrivedoatoao reasonedo conclusiono thato theo prosecutiono hado failedo too establisho itso caseo beyondoreasonableodoubt.oo

6.o o Learnedocounselofurtherocontendedothatoalbeitotheovaginaloswabso ofotheovictimowereofoundopositiveoforosemenoduringoforensicoexamination,otheo prosecutiono failedo too undertakeo DNAo profilingo oro anyo othero formo ofo conclusiveo scientifico analysiso too establisho ao directo linko betweeno theo saido biologicalomaterialoandotheoaccused.oTheoabsenceoofoDNAoanalysisooroanyo comparableoscientificoevidenceodeprivedotheoprosecutionoofotheomostocriticalo formoofocorroborativeoproof.oMoreosignificantly,otheoclothesoofotheovictim,o whicho couldo haveo potentiallyo carriedo corroborativeo traceo evidence,o wereo neverosentoforochemicaloexamination.oThisoglaringolapseoonotheopartoofotheo investigatingoagencyocreatedoaoseriousodentoinotheocaseoofotheoprosecutionoando deprivedoitoofovitalolinkoevidenceothatocouldohaveoeitherosupportedoororefutedoo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-13-oooo o theoallegationoofosexualoassault/rape.oItowasosubmittedothatohadotheogarmentso ofotheovictimobeenoexaminedoforotheopresenceoofosemenooroanyobodilyofluids,o andohadotheoresultsomatchedowithotheoforensicofindingsoonotheovaginaloswabs,o ao strongo evidentiaryo connectiono couldo theno haveo beeno established.o Theo omissiono ino thiso regardo waso noto merelyo proceduralo buto fatalo too theo prosecution'soeffortotooestablishotheoidentityoofotheoassailants.oo

7.o o Itowasostillofurtheroarguedothatotheoconductoofotheocomplainanto andoherohusband,ofollowingotheoallegedoincident,owasowhollyounnaturaloando inconsistentowithoordinaryohumanobehavior.oAsoperotheiroownoversion,oupono comingotooknowoaboutotheoallegedoincident,otheyosawotheoaccusedohastilyo walkingoaway.oDespiteothis,otheyoneitheroraisedoanyohueoandocryonoromadeo anyo attempto too apprehendo oro followo theo accused.o Instead,o theyo allegedlyo proceededotootheoresidenceoofotheoSarpanchoandoaofewovillagers.oTheosaido conduct,oitowasourged,odefiesologicoandoreason.oEvenoif,oforosomeoreason,otheo complainantoandoherohusbandowereounableotoosecureotheohelpoofotheoSarpancho orootherovillagers,othereowasonothingothatoprecludedothemofromoimmediatelyo reportingotheomatterotootheopolice.oHowever,otheorecordorevealsothatotheoFIRo wasolodgedoonlyoonotheofollowingoday,oafteroanounexplainedodelayoofoseveralo hours.oThisodelayoinoreportingotheomatter,ocoupledowithotheounnaturaloconducto ofo theo complainanto ando hero husband,o castso ao seriouso shadowo overo theo authenticityoofotheoprosecutionoversionoandowasoclearlyosuggestiveoofoitobeingo anoafterthoughtoandoanoembellishedoaccount.o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-14-oooo o

8.o o Attentiono waso alsoo drawno too theo statementso recordedo undero Sectiono 313o Cr.P.C.,o whereino botho accusedo hado clearlyo indicatedo theo existenceo ofo prioro animosityo betweeno themo ando theo familyo ofo theo complainant.o Ito waso submittedo thato theo victimo ando theo tenanto ofo theo complainantohadoearlierobeenocaughtoinoanoobjectionableosituationoinotheoshopo ownedobyotheocomplainant'sofamily.oTheoaccusedoalongowithosomeovillagers,o hadoobjectedotoothatoincident,owhicholedotooaostrainoinotheirorelationsowithotheo familyo ofo theo complainant.o Thiso prioro enmity,o ito waso argued,o providedo ao strongomotiveoforotheofalseoimplicationoofotheoaccusedoinoaofabricatedoando concoctedocase.oTheolearnedotrialoCourt,oitowasosubmitted,orightlyotookonoteo ofothisorelevantobackgroundoandocorrectlyoappreciatedotheopossibilityoofofalseo implication.oo

9.o o Ao furthero inconsistencyo ino theo caseo ofo theo prosecutiono waso highlightedoinorelationotootheoplaceoofooccurrence.oWhileotheovictimodeposedo thatotheoallegedoincidentotookoplaceonearotheomainogateoofotheoschooloadjacento tooherohouse,otheositeoplano(Ex.PM)opreparedobyotheoInvestigatingoOfficero markedotheospotoofooccurrenceoasobeingobehindotheoschool,oinotheooppositeo direction.o Thiso contradictiono regardingo theo exacto placeo ofo occurrenceo remainedo unexplainedo ando significantlyo underminedo theo credibilityo ofo theo prosecution'soversionoofoevents.oItowasosubmittedothatosuchoaodiscrepancyoo o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-15-oooo o wasonototrivialobutofundamentalotootheocaseoandoitsoimpactocouldonotohaveo beenobrushedoaside.o

10.o o Learnedocounseloalsooarguedothatotheoallegedorecoveryoofotheo salwaroofotheovictimoatotheoinstanceoofotheoaccused,oevenoifoaccepted,ocouldo not,obyoitself,obeoconstruedoasoincriminatingoevidence.oInotheoabsenceoofoanyo forensicoreportolinkingotheogarmentowithotheoaccusedoorotheoallegedoact,osucho recovery,oitowasosubmitted,oisoinconsequentialoandodoesonotoadvanceotheocaseo ofotheoprosecution.oAorecoveryounaccompaniedobyoscientificocorroborationooro independentoevidenceoofopossessionolacksoprobativeovalueoinoaocaseoofothiso nature.o

11.o o Learnedo counselo alsoo casto seriouso doubto ono theo claimo ofo theo prosecutionothatoaccusedoRajoKumaro@oRajuohadocomeotootheohouseoofotheo complainanto undero theo pretexto ofo collectingo pensiono documentso foro hiso mother.oItowasopointedooutothatoatotheorelevantotime,otheoaccusedowasonotoeveno inopossessionoofoanyopapersoandohadoneveropreviouslyovisitedotheohouseoofotheo complainant.o Ito was,o therefore,o whollyo improbableo thato theo complainanto wouldopermitocompleteostrangersotooenteroherohouse.oTheoprosecutionofailedo tooofferoanyoplausibleoexplanationoasotoowhyotheoaccusedowouldoseekoentryo intootheohouseoofotheocomplainantounderosuchoanoimplausibleopretextoorohowo heowasopermittedoaccessodespiteobeingoaostranger.o

12.o o Itowasoadditionallyourgedothatotheoversionoofotheoprosecutionoiso alsooweakenedobyotheoabsenceoofoanyoindependentopublicowitness.oItowasoo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-16-oooo o arguedothatoif,oasoalleged,otheosexualoassaultooccurredoeitheroonoaopublicostreeto oro nearo theo school,o whicho waso surroundedo byo ao residentialo area,o ito iso inconceivableothatonoooneofromotheolocalityowitnessedotheoincidentooroheardo theocriesoofotheovictim.oTheofailureotooexamineooroevenositeoanyoindependento witnesso residingo ino theo vicinityo furthero raiseso graveo doubtso regardingo theo occurrenceoofotheoincidentoinotheomanneroprojectedobyotheoprosecution.o

13.o o Finally,oitowasocontendedothatoevenotheotestimonyoofotheovictimo didonotoinspireoconfidence.oItowasopointedooutothatosheowasounableotoostateo withoanyoclarityoorocertaintyotheodurationoofotheoallegedosexualoassaultooro whetherosheohadosustainedoanyobleedingoinjuriesoasoaoconsequenceothereof.o Suchovaguenessoinotheotestimonyoofotheovictim,oparticularlyoinoaocaseoofothiso nature,omilitatesoagainstotheocredibilityoofoheroversionoandorendersoitounsafeotoo formotheosoleobasisoforoconviction.oInoviewoofotheoaboveosubmissions,oitowaso prayedothatotheoappealofiledobyotheoStateodeservesotoobeodismissedoandotheo judgmentoofotheolearnedotrialoCourtobeoupheld.o FINDINGSoOFoTHISoCOURTo

14.o o Weohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandoperusedotheo evidenceoonorecord.o

15.o o Theopresentoappeal,ofiledobyotheoState,ocallsointooquestionotheo legalityoandoproprietyoofotheoimpugnedojudgment,owherebyotheorespondentso wereoacquittedoofoseriousochargesoinvolvingotheosexualoassault/rapeoetc.oofoao minorogirl,oagedoabouto13oyearsoofoage.o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-17-oooo o

16.o o Theo findingso ofo theo learnedo trialo Courto reflecto ao disturbinglyo superficialo ando patentlyo flawedo appreciationo ofo theo evidenceo ono record,o betrayingoaocavalierodisregardoforobothofactualomaterialoandobindingolegalo principles.oTheoconclusionsoarrivedoatoinotheoimpugnedojudgmentoareonotoonlyo unsupportedobyoevidenceoorogroundedoinolawobut,oinoseveraloinstances,ostando directlyo contradictedo byo unimpeachableo documentaryo ando testimonialo evidence.o Upono ao meticulouso ando exhaustiveo scrutinyo ofo theo record,o thiso Courto iso constrainedo too observe―witho utmosto disapproval―thato theo impugnedo judgmento isovitiatedo byo ao perverseo appreciationoofoevidence,o ao fundamentalo misapplicationo ofo settledo principles,o ando ao troublingo misapprehensiono ofo theo jurisprudenceo governingo sexualo offences,o particularlyothoseoinvolvingominorovictims.oFarofromodemonstratingojustice,o theojudgmentounderochallengeoperpetuatesoinjustice,oresultingoinoaoseriouso miscarriageowarrantingoappellateointerference.o

17.o o Uponoaometiculousoandoexhaustiveoscrutinyoofotheoevidenceoono record,othisoCourtoisoconstrainedotooobserveo–owithotheoutmostodisapprovalo–o thatotheoimpugnedojudgmentoisonotomerelyoerroneousoinofactoandolaw,obutoiso vitiatedo byo ano egregiouslyo flawedo ando patentlyo perverseo appreciationo ofo evidence,o ao fundamentalo disregardo ofo bindingo legalo principles,o ando ao disturbinglyosuperficialounderstandingoofotheojurisprudenceogoverningosexualoo o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-18-oooo o offences,oparticularlyothoseoinvolvingominorovictims.oTheojudgmentoundero challengeonotoonlyofailsotoodemonstrateojusticeo–oitoperpetuatesoinjustice.o

18.o o DelayoinolodgingoofoFIRo–oMisplacedoandoPerverseoReasoning:o o o TheolearnedotrialoCourt,oinoanoastoundingodisplayoofomisplacedo emphasis,otreatedotheoallegedo'delay'oinolodgingotheoFIRoasoaodeterminativeo infirmityo ino theo caseo ofo theo prosecution.o Thiso viewo iso fundamentallyo misconceived.oTheoincidentooccurredoinotheolateoeveningoofo19.09.2003.oTheo FIRo waso lodgedo withouto anyo materialo delayo ato 9:45o a.m.o theo followingo morning.o

19.o o ThisoCourtocannotocountenanceosuchoartificialoinflationoofoaonon-issue.oUnfortunately,otheolearnedotrialoCourt'soreasoningostandsovitiatedobyoitso disregardoofotheosettledolawothatodelaysoinoregisteringoFIRsoinocasesoofosexualo assaultsoetcobeoapproachedowithoempathy,orealismoandocontextualosensitivity.o

20.o o Inotheopresentocase,otheoso-calledo'delay'o–oifoitocanoevenobeo characterizedo aso sucho –o waso entirelyo ando satisfactorilyo explainedo byo theo surroundingocircumstances.oTheovictimowasoaominor,oreelingounderosevereo psychologicalotrauma.oHerofamilyohadotriedoinovainotoopromptlyoreachooutotoo theo Villageo Communityo memberso foro help,o ando significantly,o aso alreadyo mentionedoearlier,otheoFIRowasoregisteredotheoveryonextomorning.oTheolearnedo trialoCourtowasoexpectedotoorecognizeotheoemotionaloandopsychologicalotollo suchoanoincidentoinflictsoonoaominorovictim,oasowelloasotheounderstandableo hesitationoandodelayothatofamiliesooftenoexhibitoinocasesoofothisonatureo–oo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-19-oooo o responsesothatoareoentirelyoconsistentowithonormalohumanobehavioroinotheo aftermathoofosuchoaotraumaticoevent.oTherefore,otheoinsistenceoofotheolearnedo trialoCourtoonotheoimmediateoregistrationoofoFIR,odivorcedofromotheorealitieso ofosocietalopressuresoandotraumaoisonotoonlyoarchaico–oitoisodeeplyounjust.o

21.o o Minoro Inconsistencieso –o Misplacedo Discreditingo ofo Prosecution:o o o Theo acquittalo ofo theo accusedo iso substantiallyo rootedo ino theoooooo over-relianceoplacedobyotheolearnedotrialoCourtoonotrivialodiscrepanciesoinotheo testimoniesoofotheovictimoandoheromothero(PW2-PinkioRani).oTheseominoro variationsorelateotootheopreciseolocationoofotheoplaceoofooccurrenceoandotheo sequenceo ofo someo events.o Sucho discrepancieso areo neithero uncommono noro unexpected,o especiallyo wheno theo witnesso oro theo victimo ofo ano offenceo ofo sexualo assaulto iso ao minoro whoo haso undergoneo ano intenselyo traumatico experience.o

22.o o Itoneedsotoobeoreiteratedofirmlyoandounequivocallyothatotheolawo doeso noto requireo photographico memoryo fromo witnesses,o particularlyo fromo childovictimsoofosexualoassault.oTrivialovariations,oifoany,owhichodoonotogootoo theoheartoofotheocaseoofoprosecution,oareoirrelevantoandooughtonototooresultoino rejectiono ofo ano otherwiseo credibleo ando cogento version.o Theo Courtso areo expectedotoolookoatotheosubstanceoofotheoevidenceo–onotosentenceofragmentso takenooutoofocontext.o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-20-oooo o

23.o o TheoapproachoofotheolearnedotrialoCourtoinothisoregardsoclearlyo revealso ao completeo failureo too applyo theo lawo witho theo nuanceo ando circumspectiono ito demands.o Thiso Courto iso compelledo too noteo thato sucho reasoningo reflectso ao hyper-technicalo ando mechanistico applicationo ofo legalo standardso–oanoapproacholongodiscardedobyomodernocriminalojurisprudence.oo

24.o o CredibilityoofotheotestimonyoofotheoVictimo–oDisregardoWithouto Justification:o o o Inotheopresentocase,otheofoundationaloelementsoofotheocaseoofotheo prosecutiono–otheoabductionoofotheovictim,otheooccurrenceoofosexualoassault,o theo clearo identificationo ofo theo perpetratorso ando theo corroborationo througho medicaloandoforensicoevidenceo–oremainoconsistent,ocogent,oandounshaken.o Theo testimonyo ofo theo victimo duringo theo trialo waso direct,o unwaveringo ando carriedotheounmistakableoringoofotruth.o

25.o o TheolearnedotrialoCourt'sorejectionoofotheoocular,omedicaloando forensicoevidenceoonoflimsyogroundsoreflectsoaodisturbingodisregardoforotheo legalo standardso ando sensitivityo requiredo ino adjudicatingo caseso involvingo sexualooffences.oAlarmingostilloisotheoreasoningoadvancedobyotheolearnedotrialo Courtotoodoubtotheocaseoofotheoprosecutiono–onamelyothatotheovictimofailedotoo specifyotheodurationoofotheosexualoassaultoorofurnishootheropreciseodetails.o

26.o o Weoareoconstrainedotooobserveothatosuchoreasoningoisonotoonlyo whollyo untenableo buto betrayso ao deepo insensitivityo too theo psychologicalo traumaosufferedobyotheovictimsoofosexualoviolence,oparticularlyominors.oItoisoo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-21-oooo o utterlyomisconceivedotooexpectoaovictimoofosuchoaoharrowingoexperienceotoo recounto minuteo oro exacto detailso ofo theo incident.o Sucho expectationso areo unrealisticoandorevealoaocompleteofailureoonotheopartoofotheolearnedotrialoCourto tooappreciateotheoprofoundoemotionaloandopsychologicaloimpactoofosexualo assaultoonoaoyoungovictim.oo

27.o o MedicaloandoForensicoEvidenceo–oIgnoredowithoutoReason:o o o oTheomedicaloevidenceoinotheopresentocaseoclearlyocorroborateso theo versiono ofo theo victim.o PW3-Dr.o S.S.o Oberoi,o whoo conductedo theooooo medico-legalo examinationo ofo theovictimo soono afterotheo registrationoofo theo FIR,o recordedo theo followingo injurieso ono hero person,o consistento ando unambiguousowithoforcibleosexualoassault:o-o a)l Twoolinearoabrasionsoeacho1oxo.2ocmoinohealingophaseo.2ocmo apartotheomedicalooneo3ocmomiddleofromotheomidoline,opresentoino theoleftosideoofobackoinoitsoloweropartoatotheoleveloofoiliacocrest.o b)l Abrasiono.5oxo.2ocmoinohealingophaseoinotheoupperopartoofolefto sideoofoleg.o3ocmobehindotheochin.oForogenitaloexamination,otheo patientowasoadmittedoinoGynaeoWardoRajindraoHosiptal,oPatiala.o BothotheoinjuriesoNo.1oando2owereodeclaredotoobeocausedobyo bluntoweaponoandoprobableodurationoofoinjuriesowasoabouto12otoo24ohours.o

28.o o Theo presenceo ofo theo aboveo injurieso ono theo victim,o wheno consideredo alongsideo hero consistento narrative,o lendso overwhelmingo credibilityoofotheoprosecution.o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-22-oooo o

29.o o Further,o PW4-Dr.o Meenakshio Gupta,o througho radiologicalo examination,oopinedothatotheovictimowasobetweeno13otoo15oyearsoofoage.oThiso evidenceo regardingo theo radiologicalo opiniono quao theo ageo ofo theo victimo remainedowhollyounchallengedobyotheodefenceoduringotrial.oTheolearnedotrialo Court'so casualo dismissalo ofo thiso crucialo corroborativeo medicalo opiniono withoutoanyosubstantiveoreasoningoorocountervailingomaterialoisonotomerelyo erroneousobutobordersoonojudicialoimpropriety.oo

30.o o Similarly,o theo forensico evidenceo confirmedo theo presenceo ofo semeno ino theo vaginalo swabso collectedo fromo theo victim,o consistento witho penetration.oTheoargumentoofotheolearnedoAmicusoCuriaeothatoDNAoprofilingo wasonotoconductedoandohence,oitocouldonotobeocogentlyoprovedothatoitowasotheo accusedo whoo wereo perpetratorso ofo theo crimeo ino question,o deserveso too beo rejected.oTheoabsenceoofoDNAoprofilingodoesonotonullifyotheoprobativeovalueo ofo theo medicalo ando forensico material.o Theo evidentiaryo burdeno ono theo prosecutiono iso noto too proveo itso caseo witho mathematicalo precisiono buto too establishoguiltoofoanoaccusedobeyondoreasonableodoubt.oTheoCourtocannoto demandoscientificoinfallibilityoinoeveryocase.o

31.o o Therefore,otheosweepingorejectionoofoallocorroborativeomaterialo onotheoaboveogroundsobyotheolearnedotrialoCourtodemonstratesoaoglaringonon-applicationoofomind.o o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-23-oooo o

32.o o PlaceoofoOccurrenceoandoRecoveryoofoClotheso–oMisconstruedo andoMisread:o o o Furthermore,otheolearnedotrialoCourt'sofindingocastingodoubtoono theoplaceoofooccurrenceoisoequallyoflawed.oWhetherotheoactooccurredoatotheo frontoorobackoofotheoschoolobuildingodoesonotoaffectotheosubstanceoofotheocaseo ofotheo prosecution.oTheo generalo areao ofo occurrenceohasobeeno consistentlyo describedoandotheoidentityoofotheospotoisonotoinoseriousodispute.oSuchohyper-technicalo parsingo serveso noo usefulo purposeo othero thano too discredito theo prosecutionoononon-existentogrounds.o

33.o o Similarly,o theo recoveryo ofo theo clotheso ofo theo victimo ato theo instanceo ofo accusedo Rajo Kumaro @o Rajuo (respondento No.2)o waso wronglyo disbelievedo ando dismissedo aso suspicious.o Theo victimo hado returnedo homeo partiallyoclothed,oandothisofactowasocorroboratedobyoheromother,oPW2-Pinkio Ranioandobyomedicaloevidence.oTheorecoveryoinosuchocontext,olentosignificanto credenceotootheoprosecutionoversion.oTheocontraryoviewotakenobyotheolearnedo trialoCourtoisoirrationaloandoreflectsoaoperverseoappreciationoofobasicofacts.o

34.o o AbsenceoofoForensicoExaminationoofotheoSalwaroandoChunnio ofotheovictim:o o o AnoargumentowasoadvancedobyotheolearnedoAmicusoCuriaeothato ino theo absenceo ofo forensico examinationo ofo theo salwaro ando chunnio ofo theo victim,onooconclusiveolinkocouldobeoestablishedobetweenotheoaccusedoandotheo offence.oThisoargumentoisodevoidoofomerit.oItostandsonegatedobyotheoconsistentoo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-24-oooo o caseo ofo theo prosecutiono fromo theo outseto whicho iso thato theo accusedo hado removedotheolowerogarmentsoofotheovictimoduringotheocommissionoofotheo offence.oConsequently,otheoabsenceoofosemenostainsoonogarmentsonotowornoato theotimeoisoentirelyoinconsequential.oItoisofurtheroborneooutofromotheorecordo thatotheovictimowasocladoonlyowithoaoshirtowhenosheoreturnedotooherohouseo followingotheosexualoassaultoonotheofatefuloevening.o

35.o o Defenceo ofo Enmityo ando Absenceo ofo Publico Witnesseso –o Unsustainable:o o o Theo argumento advancedo regardingo prioro enmity,o allegedlyo arisingo fromo ao pasto rebukeo byo theo accused,o iso botho speculativeo ando unsupportedobyoanyocogentoevidence.oItoisobeyondocomprehensionothatotheo parentsoofoaoyoungogirlowouldosubjectoherotootheotraumaoofoinvasiveomedicalo examinationoandosocialostigmaotoosettleoscores.o

36.o o Theoabsenceoofoindependentopublicowitnessesoasoarguedobyotheo learnedo Amicuso Curiaeo foro discreditingo theo caseo ofo theo prosecutiono alsoo deservesotoobeorejected.oTheoabsenceoofoindependentopublicowitnesses,owhileo relevanto ino someo context,o cannoto diluteo theo testimonyo ofo ao child-victim,o whoseoaccountoisofoundoreliableoandocorroboratedobyomedicaloandoforensico evidence.oSexualoassaults,oparticularlyothoseooccurringoinosemi-publicoareaso oroatotwilight,oareooftenocrimesoofoopportunityoandomayoescapeopubliconotice.o Theoinstantocrimeotookoplaceonearoaoschooloboundaryoduringolateoeveningo hourso–onotoinobroadodaylightoamidstoaocrowd.oCourtsomustobeoconsciousothatoo o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-25-oooo o inocasesoofosexualoassault,otheopresenceoofoindependentowitnessesoisorare.oTheo failureotooexamineosomeoneofromotheovicinityocannotobeotreatedoasofatalowheno theoversionoofotheovictimoisootherwiseoconsistentoandodulyocorroborated.o

37.o o Theovictimoinotheopresentocaseoisoaominor,oandoherotestimonyo bearsotheohallmarkoofotruth.oHeroaccountoremainedoconsistentoandounshakeno throughout,o ando ito stoodo dulyo corroboratedo ino materialo particularso byo theo versionoofotheocomplainanto(PW2-PinkioRani),omedicaloevidence,oandotheo surroundingocircumstances.oItoisoaosettledoprincipleoofolawothatotheotestimonyo ofoaochild-victim,oonceofoundocredibleoandotrustworthy,orequiresonoofurthero corroboration.oThisocaseoisonooexception.o

38.o o Inoviewoofotheoforegoing,oweofindonoohesitationoinoconcludingo thatotheojudgmentorenderedobyotheolearnedotrialoCourtoisovitiatedobyoseriouso legalo infirmities,o ao grosso appreciationo ofo evidence,o ando ao disturbinglyo indifferentoapplicationoofosettledolegaloprinciples.oTheoacquittaloofobothotheo accusedois,otherefore,onotoonlyounjustifiedobutoalsoomanifestlyoperverseoando whollyounsustainableoinolaw.o

39.o o Theo appealo filedo byo theo Stateo is,o therefore,o allowed.o Theo impugnedo judgmento ofo acquittalo datedo 23.11.2004o passedo byo theo learnedo SessionsoJudge,oPatialaoisosetoaside.oTheoaccusedopersonsoi.e.oKakaoRamoando Rajo Kumaro @o Rajuo areo heldo guiltyo ofo theo chargeso framedo againsto them.o Hence,otheoaccused-respondentsostandoconvictedounderoSectionso376,o506,o 363/34oofotheoIndianoPenaloCode,o1860.o o o CRA-D-302-DBA-2005o o o o o o o o oooo-26-oooo o

40.o o Leto theo convictso beo heardo ono theo quantumo ofo sentence.o SSPo concernedo iso directedo too produceo themo ino custodyo beforeo thiso Courto ono

29.08.2025.o Ao copyo ofo thiso ordero beo sento too theo quartero concernedo foro immediateocompliance.o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o (MANJARIoNEHRUoKAUL)o o o o o o o o o o JUDGEo o o Augusto01,o2025oo o o o o o ooo(H.S.oGREWAL)o ????????o???? o o o o o o o JUDGEo o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :oo Yes/Noo o o o Whetheroreportableoo o :oo Yes/Noo