A special court in Thane district, Maharashtra, has delivered a verdict acquitting a man accused of kidnapping and raping a 17-year-old girl. The court’s decision, made public on Monday, has sparked debate over the handling of the case.
The prosecution’s case relied on the girl’s initial statement, in which she alleged that the accused, her neighbour, had persuaded her to leave home with him. He then allegedly took her to Sangli, where he repeatedly raped her against her will.
However, the girl’s subsequent actions and testimony raised questions about the accuracy of her initial statement.
During her cross-examination, the girl admitted to leaving home voluntarily with the accused and stated that she had no grievances against him. Her statement supported the accused’s narrative, as she mentioned proposing to him and going with him willingly. Furthermore, the girl married the accused after turning 18, which raised additional questions about the nature of their relationship.
The court observed that the girl, aged 17 years and 9 months at the time of the elopement, was old enough to understand the consequences of her actions. This assessment made her testimony more favourable to the defence. Special Judge D S Deshmukh held that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused, who needs to be given the benefit of the doubt.
The acquittal highlights the complexities of dealing with cases involving minors and the need for a nuanced understanding of the circumstances surrounding such cases. The verdict has sparked debate over the handling of the case and the court’s interpretation of the evidence.
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