A Delhi court has convicted a juvenile for raping two minor girls in 2017. The court affirmed that the prosecution has adequately established that the child in conflict (CCL) with the law committed rape or aggravated penetrative sexual assault on both victims.
The case was heard by Additional Sessions Judge Amit Sahrawat, concerning the juvenile accused charged under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for raping the minor girls, aged seven and around four years.
“It can be conclusively stated that the prosecution has duly proven its case beyond any reasonable doubt that the CCL committed rape or aggravated penetrative sexual assault on both victims,” the court stated.
State representation was provided by Special Public Prosecutor Vijay Dahiya.
The court acknowledged the investigating officer’s (IO) lapse in not recording the victims’ statements within the prescribed time and not seizing the torn clothes of one victim. However, it emphasized that these lapses do not invalidate the offence.
“Hence, the other evidences cannot be disregarded due to negligence on the part of the IO,” it asserted.
The court noted no evidence suggesting that the victims were coached, emphasizing that medical examinations corroborated their testimonies, conducted on the day of the offence.
“The medical findings indicate only one conclusion – forcible rape or penetrative sexual assault was committed upon both victims,” the court remarked.
Although one victim did not identify the accused in court, the “missing link” in her testimony was filled by the forensic science laboratory (FSL) report, which indicated her blood was found on the accused’s pyjama.
