Delhi High Court Upholds Acquittal in Controversial Rape Case

The Delhi High Court has upheld the acquittal of a man accused of rape, pointing to significant doubt surrounding the alleged victim's account of events. During proceedings, Justice Amit Mahajan considered the state government's appeal against a prior trial court ruling from March 2018, which had found in favor of the accused on charges of rape and criminal intimidation.

In the court's judgment, it was emphasized that while an accused can be convicted solely on the evidence of a prosecutrix, such testimony must be reliable and persuasive. The court found the prosecutrix's statements inconsistent and lacking credibility. Additionally, the First Information Report (FIR) was filed 10 days after the alleged incident, with no adequate explanation provided for this delay.

The court highlighted that the prosecutrix continued work at the accused's factory after the incident, further casting doubt on her claims. Additionally, contradictions between her and her husband's testimonies weakened the prosecution's case. Ultimately, the state government was unable to present compelling grounds for an appeal.

(With inputs from agencies.)