Man convicted 15 yrs ago for rape acquitted

THE APEX COURT SET ASIDE THE JUDGEMENTS OF THE ANDHRA PRADESH HIGH COURT AND THE TRIAL COURT WHICH HAD

CONVICTED THE MAN

NEW DELHI: Fifteen years after a man was convicted by a trial court for raping a woman, the Supreme Court has acquitted him saying the ‘victim’ was not a “trustworthy witness” as she was “blowing hot and cold” and changing her stand from time to time.

The apex court said this while setting aside the judgements of the Andhra Pradesh high court and the trial court which had convicted the man. In 2011, the high court had upheld the September 2004 verdict of the trial court which had convicted and sentenced him to 10 years jail.

A bench of justices Deepak Gupta and Surya Kant said the trial court had “virtually convicted” the man while relying upon statements recorded by the police and had totally bypassed the statements made on oath before the court. “It is the statement made on oath in the court which has to be the foundation of conviction,” the bench said.

“No doubt, it is true that conviction in a case of rape can be based on the sole testimony of the prosecutrix. However, there is one caveat, which is, that the statement should inspire confidence. This is a case of victim who is blowing hot and cold and changing her stand from time to time,” the bench said while acquitting the man.

According to the police, the man had raped the woman in December 2000 when she was on way home. She informed her husband about the incident after returning home and an FIR was lodged based on their complaint, the police had said.