Delhi high court sets free 2 men accused of gangraping colleague in 2009

The Delhi high court said that the two convicts, in custody since June 2009, “deserve the benefit of doubt”, and directed their release from jail immediately.

Delhi high court has set free two men of the charge of gangraping their colleague, saying there was “inconsistency” in the woman’s version about the incident.

The court said that the two convicts, in custody since June 2009, “deserve the benefit of doubt”, and directed their release from jail immediately. (File photo)

Holding that the two convicts, who have been in custody since June 2009, “deserve the benefit of doubt”, justice SP Garg directed their release from jail immediately.

“...Nothing has come on record to show if during her employment in the factory for about a month, the appellants had an evil eye on her or had attempted any time to outrage her modesty. No complaint whatsoever was filed by the victim against any of the appellants any time.

“Considering the inconsistent and conflicting versions narrated by the prosecutrix (woman) at different stages of investigation, conviction and sentence of the appellants cannot be sustained in the absence of independent corroboration. The appellants deserve benefit of doubt,” the court said.

The court’s verdict came on an appeal filed by the duo who had challenged their conviction and 10 year jail term awarded by the trial court here in July 2014. Besides the sentence, the two were also fined Rs 10,000 each.

As per the police, the woman was gangraped by the two when she on June 14, 2009 went to the factory premises of one of the two accused. She had gone there to collect her wages, police had said.

One of the accused during the trial had claimed innocence and told the court that the physical relations with the woman were with her consent.