State Of Chhattisgarh vs Santlal Kushwaha

Pritinker Diwaker, J

This petition has been filed under Section 378(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 assailing the impugned judgment dated 13.10.2017 passed

by the Additional Sessions Judge, Ramanujganj, Civil District -Surguja (Ambikapur) (C.G.) in Sessions Trial No. R-41/2015, whereby the Court below

has acquitted the respondent of the offence under Sections 450, 376(1), 506(B) of IPC.

Brief facts of the case are that on 16.03.2015, a written report (Ex. P.1) was lodged by the prosecutrix (PW-1), a married lady, aged about 20

years, alleging that on 15.03.2015, at about 11.30 P.M when she was all alone in the house, respondent knocked the door and when she opened the

door, he entered the house, caught hold of her neck, and committed forceful sexual intercourse. Based on this written report, the First Information

Report (Ex. P-2) was registered against the respondent under Sections 457, 376 & 506 of IPC.

During trial, the prosecution has examined as many as seven witnesses. Statement of the accused/respondent was also recorded under Section 313

of the Cr.P.C. in which he pleaded his innocence and false implication in the case.

Admittedly, prosecurtrix (PW-1) has not supported the prosecution case and has been declared hostile. In the Court, the prosecutrix (PW-1) has

stated that the accused/respondent had simply entered her house and was watching the T.V. when her husband came. She has further stated that her

husband had suspicion in his mind that she is having some relationship with the respondent and that is why the report was lodged. In her entire

statement, she has nowhere stated that she was subjected to forcible sexual intercourse by the respondent. Even in the medical report of the

prosecutrix (Ex. P-6), no external or internal injury was found on her body.

After hearing counsel for the State/petitioner and considering the material available on record as well as the elaborate judgment impugned passed

by the Court below and being very much conscious of the existing legal position that in a petition against acquittal, if two views are possible on the

basis of the evidence led by the prosecution and the trial Court taking one view favoured the accused/respondent, reversion of the findings of acquittal

by the appellate/revisional Court taking the other possible view into consideration, is not permissible in law, this Court is of the view that the judgment

impugned acquitting the accused/respondent of the offence under Sections 450, 376(1) & 506(B) of IPC is just and proper and does not call for any

interference. Accordingly, the leave as sought for by the petitioner for registration of appeal against the judgment of acquittal is hereby refused.

The petition is accordingly dismissed.