Professional Documents
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Jeevansathi Rape Case
Jeevansathi Rape Case
Jeevansathi Rape Case
KaveriBaweja
AdditionalSessionsJudgeSpecialFTC2(Central)
TisHazariCourts:Delhi.
SessionsCaseNo.:52/2014
UniqueIDNo.:02401R0659852013
State
versusHarishSharma
S/oSh.YadramSharma
R/o3C422,BudhiVihar,
Muradabad,UP.
Casearisingoutof:
FIRNo.
216/2012
PoliceStation
DBGRoad
UnderSection
376IPC
Judgmentreservedon
:12.10.2015
Judgmentpronouncedon
:31.10.2015
JUDGMENT
PROSECUTIONCASE:
1.
'P.D.'(namewithheldinordertoprotectheridentity)cametoPSDBGRoad
andgavestatementtoASIPushpaallegingcommissionofrapebyaccused
HarishSharma. Atthesametime,shealsogaveinwritingthatasshehad
alsogivenacomplaintagainstaccusedatMahilaThanaatRaipur,wherethe
matter is pending consideration, she does not want any action against the
accusedforonemonthas.However,on26.09.2012,sheagaincametothePS
DBGRoadandgotlodgedacaseFIRagainsttheaccusedHarishSharmaon
thebasisofhercomplaintdated25.05.2012,thecontentswhereofarebeing
enumeratedasunder:
2.
Thecomplainant'P.D.'isaresidentofRaipur.About1year
back,shecreatedaprofileonthewebsitejeewansathi.comformatrimonial
purpose and found the details of one Harish Sharma, which she liked.
Thereafter,shesentaproposalformarriagetohimandalsodisclosedher
entirepersonaldetailstohim.Accusedacceptedherproposalformarriage
throughhismobilephonesviz.,9759684740&9990111593andremainedin
touch with her for 1 year on the pretext of marriage and gained her
confidence.
3.
HazratNizammudinRailwayStationtopickheratabout6:30PMandinstead
oftakinghertohishouse,hetookhertoahotelnamelyOrchidGardenat
DBGRoad,KarolBagh,Delhi.Uponaskingofcomplainantastowhyhehas
broughthertoahotel,accusedtoldherthathisfamilymemberswillcome
aftertwodaystomeetherandthathewillintroducehertotheminthesame
hotel. ThecomplainantbeingunknowntoDelhicity,hadnooption,butto
stayinthesaidhotel.
4.
Thecomplainantfurtherallegedinhercomplaintthataccused
hadestablishedphysicalrelationswithheragainstherwishesintheaforesaid
hotelonthepretextofmarriage.Duetofearofdefamationinsociety,shedid
notdiscloseanyoneaboutthisincident.FamilymembersofAccusedalsodid
notcometomeether.AccusedaskedhertoreturntoherhouseatRaipurand
assuredherthathewillcometherealongwithhisfamilytotalkabouttheir
marriage.However,accuseddidnotturnupforthesame. Thereafter,the
complainant also found that the Accused had closed his profile on
jeewansathi.comandhadalsoswitchedoffhismobilenumbers.Complainant
alsomadeseveraleffortsforcallingtheaccusedatMahilaThanaatRaipur,
but the accused did not turn up there. Thereafter, the complainant was
constrainedtolodgeacomplaintagainsttheaccusedatPSDBGRoad.
5.
medically examined vide MLC No.15060 from LNJP Hospital and the
exhibitscollected from the hospital were taken into police possession and
weredepositedintheMalkhanathereafter. Searchwasalsomadeforthe
AccusedHarishSharmaathisofficeatMoradabadaswellashishouseat
Amroha. Thereafter, Accused got Anticipatory Bail from the court on
26.10.2015. However, he was formally arrested on 28.10.2015 and was
joinedininvestigationandhismedicalwasalsogotconductedantheexhibits
werealsocollectedfromthehospital.
6.
PolicealsomadefromthestaffofHotelOrchidGarden,DBG
Road,Delhi.Statementofwitnesseswerealsorecordedduringinvestigation,
exhibitsweresenttoFSLforopinionandaftercompletionofinvestigation,
chargesheetwasfiledbeforethecourt.
CHARGES:
7.
record, Accused Harish Sharma S/o Sh.Yadram Sharma was charged for
offence punishable under Sections 376 IPC vide order dated 05.08.2014.
Accusedpleadednotguiltyandclaimedtrialwhenthechargewasreadover
andexplainedtohim.
PROSECUTIONWITNESSES:
8.
Prosecutionexamined15witnessesinallinordertoproveitscase
whichmaybecategorizedasunder:
(i)
PublicWitnesses:
9.
Prosecutrix'PD'wasexaminedasPW1. Hertestimonywould
bediscussedlaterinthecourseofthejudgmentinordertoavoidrepetition
andforthesakeofbrevity.
10.
PW3Sh.PranavMahajan,Manager(Legal),InfoEdge(India)
Ltd.deposedthatjeevansathi.comisawebsitewhichisownedandoperated
by Info Edge (India) Ltd. He further deposed that on 27.09.2013, upon
receiptofnoticeunderSection91Cr.PCfromSISangeeta(Ex.PW3/A),he
submitted the requisite information vide his lettercumcertificate under
section 65B Evidence Act dated 30.09.2013 and proved the same as
Ex.PW3/B.
11.
examinedasPW5. HeidentifiedentryNo.4308dated14.12.2011madein
theHotelRegisteranddeposed thatasperthesaidentry atSrl.No.4308,
Accused Harish Sharma and Prosecutrix 'PD' checked into their hotel on
14.12.2011atabout6PMandcheckedouton16.11.2011at7:45AMand
thatRoomNo.208wasallottedtothem. Healsodeposedthatthecopyof
drivinglicenceofAccusedHarishSharmawastakenatthetimeofallotting
the said room to them as identity proof as per the aforesaid entry in the
register.HealsoprovedphotocopyofthesaidentryasMarkPW5/A.
12.
RailwayStation,Delhideposedregardinghandingoverofthecertifiedcopy
of Railway Chart for 28.07.2012 with respect to train No.12807 Samta
ExpresstoonepoliceofficialinthemonthofSeptember,2013andprovedthe
sameasEx.PW6/A.Hefurtherdeposedthatthesaidcertifiedcopyhadbeen
prepared from the original records which is submitted by the TT of the
concernedtrainattheirrailwaystationuponterminationofjourney.Healso
provedthecertificategivenbyhiminthisregardasEx.PW6/B.
13.
PW7Sh.ManoharLalwasexaminedinordertoprovetheGuest
EntryRegister,CCTVfootageanddocumentspertainingtostayofAccused
andProsecutrix inhotelOrchidGarden,DBGRoad,Delhifortheperiod
14.12.2011to16.12.2011.Thiswitnessalsoprovedtheoriginalguestentry
register which was seized vide seizure memo Ex.PW7/A and the
photocopiesoftheentrybearingNo.4308dated14.12.2011atpage50ofthe
registeralongwithdocumentsfurnishedbyAccusedHarishSharmaandother
documentsasEx.PW7/P2(Colly)(runninginto08pages.).
14.
courseofhisdutyinthebank.
Doctors:
15.
PW4isDr.Neelima,whopreparedtheMLC(Ex.PW4/A)ofthe
Prosecutrixon26.09.2012onthebasisofallegedhistorygivenbyher.This
witnessfurtherdeposedthattheProsecutrixagaincametothehospitalonthe
intervening night of 2627.11.2012 and she examined the Prosecutrix after
obtainingherconsent. PW4alsoprovedherdetailedasEx.PW4/Bonthe
backsideofMLCEx.PW4/A,bearinghersignaturesatpointA.Shecollected
someexhibits,sealedwiththesealofhospitalandhandedoverthesametothe
accompanyingpoliceofficials.
Policeofficials:
16.
RemainingwitnessespertaintoinvestigationwhichincludeDuty
OfficerHCBrijpalSingh,whowasexaminedasPW2.Hedeposedregarding
recordingoftheFIRon26.09.2012andprovedthecomputerizedcopyofthe
same as Ex.PW2/A and his subsequent endorsement on the same as
Ex.PW2/B.
17.
25.05.2012 while she was posted at PS DBG Road, the complaint of the
Prosecutrix was assigned to her and she made inquiries from her. The
ProsecutrixtroldherthatshehadalsofiledacomplaintagainsttheAccused
HarishKumarinMahilaPSRaipur,ChhatisgarhandsheaskedW/SIPushpa
forkeepinghercomplaintpendingforonemonthasthenextdateofhearingof
hersaidcomplaintwas04.06.2012.
18.
cameinthePSandrequestedtotakeactiononhercompliantwhichwasgiven
byherinPSDBGRoadon25.05.2012.PW13preparedtherukkaonthesaid
complaintvideEx.PW13/AandgotregisteredtheFIR.Afterregistrationof
theFIR,investigationofthiscasewasassignedtoW/SIR.P.MinzandPW13
handedoveralltherelevantdocumentstoW/SIR.P.Minz.
19.
Ct.LalChandwasexaminedasPW14. Hedeposedregarding
handingoverofrukkaandcopyofFIRtoW/SIR.P.Minzforinvestigationon
26.09.2012.
20.
examination.Shefurtherdeposedthattheexaminingdoctorhandedoversome
sealedexhibitstoherwhichshehandedovertotheIO,wholaterseizedthe
samevideseizurememoEx.PW10/A.
21.
Insp.R.P.MinzsteppedintowitnessboxasPW10.Shedeposed
thaton26.09.2012,investigationofthiscasewasassignedtoher.ASIPushpa
handed over all the relevant documents to her. PW10 got the Prosecutrix
medically examined at LHMC hospital and collected the MLC and sealed
exhibits of Prosecutrix from HC Raj Dulari, which were given to her by
examining doctor and seized the same vide seizure memo Ex.PW10/A.
PW10 also prepared the site plan of hotel Orchid Garden, DBG Road
(Ex.PW1/PA)anddepositedtheexhibitsinthemalkhanaandrecorded the
statementofwitnesses.ShealsosearchedfortheaccusedatMuradabadalong
withpolicestaffbuthecouldnotbefoundthere.PW10lastlydeposedthat
on05.10.2012,shedepositedthecasefilewithMHC(R)ofPSDBGRoadas
theinvestigationwastransferredtosomeotherofficer.
22.
MHCMHCAjaywasexaminedasPW11.Hedeposedregarding
28.10.2012,02.11.2012&31.10.2012andprovedtheirentriesmadebyhimin
the Register No.19 as Ex.PW11/A, Ex.PW11/B, Ex.PW11/C and
Ex.PW11/Drespectively.
23.
Ct.PradeepBishtwasexaminedasPW12.Hedeposedregarding
takingofsealedexhibitsvideRCNo.51/21/12fromMalkhanaon022.11.2012
onthedirectionsoftheIOanddepositingofthesameinFSLRohini. He
furtherdeposedregardinghandingoverthecopyofRCandacknowledgment
toMHC(M).
24.
assignedon26.10.2012.ShearrestedtheAccuseduponhissurrenderinthePS
on28.10.2012videarrestmemoEx.PW9/Aandalsoconductedhispersonal
search memo Ex.PW9/B. As the Accused was on anticipatory bail, she
releasedhimafterformalarrest.ShealsogottheAccusedmedicalexamined
videMLCEx.PW9/Candalsogotconductedhispotencytest.
25.
whichsheseizedduringthecourseofinvestigation,recordedthestatementof
witnessespendingFSLresult,completedtheinvestigation,preparedthecharge
sheetandfiledthesameinthecourt.
26.
HarishSharmapleadedinnocenceandhisfalseimplicationinthiscase.He
statedthatProsecutrixinfactblackmailedhiminordertoextractmoneyfrom
himandonhisrefusaltodoso,shegotthisfalsecaseregisteredagainsthim.
He further stated that he never established physical relations with the
Prosecutrixatanypointoftime. Accuseddidnotleadanyevidenceinhis
defence.
ARGUMENTS,ANALYSISANDFINDINGS:
28
counselandlearnedAddl.PPfortheStateandhavealsogonethrough the
writtensubmissionsfiledbythedefenceandtherelevantcaselawcitedinthe
courseofarguments.
29.
OntheonehandlearnedAddl.PPsubmittedthatitisestablishedby
Itwassubmittedbylearneddefencecounselthattheentirecaseof
Prosecutrixhasmademutuallycontradictoryallegationsagainsttheaccused
ItwasfurthersubmittedthattheProsecutrixisaneducatedgirl
agedabout35yearsandsheenteredintophysicalrelationswiththeaccused,
apparently,withherconsentandknowingfullytheconsequencesofheract.
Learned defence counselthussubmitted that thephysical relations,ifany,
establishedbetweenaccusedandtheProsecutrixwereconsensualinnature
andbynostretchofimaginationcanbetermed asrape,asallegedbythe
Prosecutrix.Itisthusallegedthattheaccuseddeservestobeacquittedforthe
allegedoffenceunderSection376IPCasthesaidallegationshavenotbeen
provedagainsthim.
33.
Forappreciatingandanalyzingtherivalsubmissionsduringthe
Prosecutrix/PW1'PD',whoisthemostmaterialwitnessofProsecution.
34.
completedherM.Comandherdateofbirthis29.05.1980. Shecreatedher
profile on jeewansathi.com sometime in the year 2010 and uploaded the
profileofaccusedHarishSharma,whichshelikedandshesentarequestto
himonthewebsite. Thereafter,Accused contactedhertelephonicallyand
theystartedinteractingwitheachotherandremainedintouchforabout1
year.
35.
On14.12.2011,accusedaskedhertocometoDelhitomeethis
familymembers.ShereachedDelhibytrainintheeveningof14.12.2011and
AccusedtookherinaTSRtoahotelnamelyOrchidGardenatDBGRoad
fromHazratNizammuddinRailwayStation.Shefurtherdeposedthataccused
askedhernottosayanythingbeforethehotelManager.Hemadeanentryin
thehotelregisterandtookaroom in thathoteland introduced her as his
fiancee.WhensheinquiredfromtheAccusedastowhyhehasbroughther
there,hetoldherthathisfamilymemberswillcomeaftertwodaystomeet
herandthathewillintroducehertotheminthesamehotel.
36.
Prosecutrix/PW1furtherdeposedthatAccusedmadeherstayin
thehotelfortwodaysandduringthisperiodheestablishedphysicalrelations
withoutherconsentanddespiteherrefusalseveraltimes.Whenshetriedto
object,Accusedusetogiveherassurancethathewillmarryherandthathis
familyisalsocomingtomeetherforthepurposeoftheirmarriage.
37.
Aftertwodays,Accusedtoldherthathismotherhassuddenly
fallenillandthathewillhavetogotohishouse.Healsoaskedhertoreturn
toherhouseatRaipurandassuredherthathewillcometherealongwithhis
familytotalkabouttheirmarriage.
38.
PW1alsodeposedthatthereafterwhenshetriedtocallupthe
accused,hedidnottakehercallsnorrepliedtohermessages. Finally,she
contactedoneAdvocatenamelyMr.YuvrajSingh,whocalledtheaccusedon
28.02.2012,butAccusedflatlytoldhimthathedoesnotknowany'P.D'.She
furtherdeposedthattheaccusedfinallytalkedtoherandaskedhertogive
himonemonth'stime,buthedidnotcontacther. Finally,sheapproached
MahilaThanaatRaipur,wherethematterwasreferredtoMediationCentre
(PaarivarikParamarshKendra),butAccuseddidnotappeardespiteserviceof
notice for four dates. Thereafter, she got the case registered against the
Accusedonthebasisofhercomplaintdated25.05.2012(Ex.PW1/A).
39.
PW1alsodeposedthatshehandedovertheclotheswhichshe
waswearingatthetimeoftheincidenttothepoliceduring thecourseof
investigation in the month of October, 2012 and they were seized by the
police vide seizure memo Ex.PW1/B. She also handed over 06 railway
ticketsofherjourneytoandfrofromRaipurtoDelhiwhichwereseizedvide
seizurememoEx.PW1/C.Prosecutrix/PW1correctlyidentifiedtheclothes
whichshehadgiventothepolicewhenthesamewereproducedandshownto
herinthecourt.
40.
OnthebasisoftheaforesaidtestimonyoftheProsecutrixand
otherevidenceledonrecordinthecourseoftrial,includingtheguestentry
register of Hotel Orchid Garden, DBG Road, Delhi produced by PW7
Sh.ManoharLal,whichhasbeenestablishedonrecordbytheProsecutionthat
theAccusedandtheProsecutrixstayedinhotelOrchidGardenatDBGRoad,
Delhifrom14.12.2011tillthemorningof16.12.2011inRoomNo.208ofthe
saidhotel. PW1testifiedthattheaccusedtookhertothesaidhotelfrom
reservationfor16.12.2011andpreponedherprogrammeforreachingDelhi
twodayspriortheretoi.e.on14.12.2011. Thus,sheapparentlyalteredher
travel plans without informing her family members and reached Delhi on
14.12.2011,knowingfullywellthattheAccusedandhisfamilymembersdid
notresideinDelhi.ItisnotherclaimthatthefamilymembersofAccused
were also coming to Delhi from Moradabad, UP to meet her. It is also
apparent on going through the testimony of Prosecutrix that the Accused
checkedintothehotelOrchidGarden,DBGRoad,Delhion14.12.2011inher
presenceandintroducedherashisfianceetothehotelstaff.Evenatthattime
theProsecutrixdidnotobjecttothesame.
42.
Itisalsonoteworthythatinthecourseofhercrossexamination
recordedon25.09.2014,Prosecutrix'P.D.'alsostatedthatshehadinformed
her parents that she is going to Delhi on an official tour and the
accommodationwillbearrangedbyheroffice.Ithasalsocomeonrecordthat
shehadplanstoreachVrindavan,Mathuraon16.12.2011,forwhichdateher
parents had also reserved her train tickets. It is thus obvious that the
Prosecutrix reached Delhi on 14.12.2011 and intended to stay there till
16.12.2011.Itisnotherclaimthatshehadmadeanyreservationsforherstay
duringtheperiodfrom14.12.2011to16.12.2011.Thusapparently,whenthe
ProsecutrixreachedDelhion14.12.2011,shehadalreadyplannedtostaytill
16.12.2011. ShewasintroducedbytheAccusedashisfianceewhenthey
reachedhotelOrchidGarden,DBGRoad,Delhi. Sheadmittedlyraisedno
alarmornoisewhentheaccusedallegedlyrapedherinthesaidhotel. Her
claimthattheAccusedforciblycommittedrapeuponherandalsogaveher
assuranceofmarriageisindeedselfcontradictory.
43.
Prosecutrix,theAccusedestablishedphysicalrelationswithherseveraltimes
duringtheaforesaidperioddespitewhichshedidnotmakeanyefforttoleave
the hotel and she only checked out with the Accused in the morning of
16.12.2011,andnotpriorthereto.Inhercrossexamination'P.D.'alsostated
thatshewenttoMathuratomeetherGurjiaftercheckingoutfromthehotel
on16.12.2011anddidnotrevealabouttheincidenttoanyone.
44.
physical relations between her and Accused, were established with her
consent.TheclaimoftheProsecutrixthattheAccusedhadassuredherthat
hewillmarryherandthusobtainedherconsentunderthesaidmisconception
offact,tomymind,isnotsufficienttocoverthecasewithinthedefinitionof
rapeunderSection375IPC.
45.
Itiswellsettledlawthatapromisetomarrywithoutanythingmore
willnotgiverisetomisconceptionoffactwithinthemeaningofSection90
IPC. Inthecaseof N.JaladuILR(1913)36Mad453 relieduponbythe
Hon'bleApexCourtinDeelipSingh@DilipKumarvs.StaeofBihar,2005
SCC(Crl.)253,ithasbeenheldthatarepresentationdeliberatelymadebythe
Accused with aview to elicittheassent of thevictimwithout having the
intentionorinclinationtomarryher,willvitiatetheconsent.Ifonthefactsit
isestablishedthatattheveryinceptionofthemakingofpromisetheaccused
didnotreallyentertaintheintentionofmarryingherandthepromisetomarry
heldoutbyhimwasamerehoax,theconsentostensiblygivenbythevictim
willbeofnoavailtotheaccusedtoexculpatehimfromtheambitofSection
375clausesecondlyIPC.
46.
Itisequallywellsettledthattheonustoprovetheabsenceof
Accusedhadbeentellingherthathehasnotbeenabletoremainintouchwith
heronaccountofillnessandhospitalizationofhismother.Similarly,inthe
transcriptEx.PW1/PF,Accused ispleading with theProsecutrix tolethis
motherrecoverfirst.
48.
ThoughtheProsecutrixhasalsoclaimedthatshecontactedone
AdvocatenamelySh.YuvrajSingh,who calledtheaccusedon28.02.2012,
butAccusedflatlytoldhimthathedoesnotknowher,yetMr.YuvrajSingh,
AdvocatehasneitherbeencitednorexaminedbytheProsecutionasawitness
tosubstantiatethisallegationoftheProsecutrix.Thereisnothingonrecordto
establishthattheAccusedfromtheverybeginningdidnotintendtomarry
Prosecutrixorthatthepromisetomarriageheldoutbyhimwasfalsefromits
veryinception.
49.
ThanaatRaipur(MarkPW1/PX1)alsorevealsthattheProsecutrixmadethe
saidcomplaintontheadviseofherknownpersons,whotoldherthatitappears
thataccusedhasditchedherandsheshouldreportthemattertothepolice.In
thesaidcomplaint,theProsecutrixhasherselfmentionedthatbeforemaking
anyreport,shewantstosettlethematterwiththeAccusedandthatheshould
becalledtotheMediationCentre. Moreover,theProsecutrixalsoadmitted
havingsentthetextmessagesEx.PW1/DAtotheAccusedafterthedateofthe
allegedincident. ThetranscriptEx.PW1/PEalsorevealsthattheProesutrix
andAccusedweresaying'ILoveyou'toeachotherinthesaidconversation.
50.
Consideringtheaboveevidenceinitstotalityandkeepingin
viewthefactsofthecase,itisapparentthattheProsecutrixandthe
Accused had entered into consensual physical relationship. The
Prosecution,asaforesaid,hasnotledanyevidencetoestablishthatwhenthe
consideredopinionthattheProsecutionhasfailedtobringhomechargeforthe
offencepunishableunderSection376IPCagainsttheAccusedHarishSharma.
Accused HarishSharmaS/oSh.YadramSharma isherebyacquittedofthe
offencepunishableunderSection376IPC. Hisbailbondstandscancelled.
SuretyDischarged.FilebeconsignedtoRecordRoom.
AnnouncedintheopenCourt
on31stdayofOctober,2015.
(KaveriBaweja)
AdditionalSessionsJudgeSpecialFTC2(Central)
TisHazariCourts:Delhi.