A man charged with raping and fathering the child of a woman, has been acquitted by a Delhi court, which held the victim’s statement and the police investigations unreliable. Additional sessions judge Suresh Chand Rajan said, “The prosecutrix had become pregnant but she did not make any complaint for eight months. She did not inform any family members and never visited the doctor. She delivered the baby on September 27, 2011. The complaint was lodged on September 21, 2011”.

The judge observed that there was no explanation why the victim and her family members kept silent for nine months. “She did not state that the accused had ever met her after January and February 2011. This shows she was not under any threat or inducement,” the judge observed. Inderjit Barnala, counsel for the accused said, “My client was framed in a false case. The victim and her family members in collusion with the police created a rape case”.

The judge said, “I am of the view that the prosecution has utterly failed in proving the guilt of the accused… The accused is entitled to benefit of doubt”.