E-Paper
Two acquitted of sexual assault of minor in Pune
A court in Pune acquitted two men accused in a case of rape of a teenager while she was a minor and leaving her pregnant in November 2018
PUNE: A court in Pune acquitted two men accused in a case of rape of a teenager while she was a minor and leaving her pregnant in November 2018.
The acquittal was granted by the court of KK Jahagirdar with defence lawyers advocate Pratibha Pawar and RL Deshmukh. The acquitted were identified as Vaibhav Bhanudas Ubale, 24, a resident of Wagholi and Ramkaran alias Dama Chandrika Chauhan, 24, a resident of Wadgaon Sheri area of Pune. A third accused has remained at large, according to the order. The DNA test in the case turned out negative in the case and a witness was found to have given false evidence in court.
“The prosecution has failed to prove the case against accused 1 and 3 beyond shadow of doubt, therefore, accused no. 1 and 3 are entitled to acquittal. In the result, I record my findings on all points in negative and proceed to pass following order. Accused 1 and 3 are hereby acquitted from the offence...,” read the order by Judge Jahagirdar.
In the order, the court observed that a prosecution witness - her friend - gave a false statement to the court and therefore, will face a complaint under Section 193 of Indian Penal Code.
“PW7 has given false evidence in court, hence, the officer superintendent of the District and Sessions Court, Pune is hereby directed to lodge a complaint against her for the offence punishable under Section 193 of IPC within two months from the date of this order and judgement,” read a part of the order.
The two were charged, and then acquitted, under Section 376(a) of Indian Penal Code and Sections 5(g), (j)(ii) punishable under Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The girl was found to be eight months pregnant in November 2018 after which a private hospital had informed the police and a case was subsequently registered.
