Pocso court acquits man of rape after minor retracts claim

Panaji: A Pocso court has acquitted a man booked for the alleged kidnapping and rape of a minor after the girl said she falsely told police that he had sexual intercourse with her to pressure her parents into getting them married.

The girl said she went with the accused voluntarily and denied any sexual relations. “She has given an explanation as to why she made this statement, stating that in her village, if this is said, the elders get the couple married,” the court observed.

Her father had complained that she was kidnapped while practising sports after higher secondary school. The minor and the accused were later traced to Khalilabad in Uttar Pradesh. She said she travelled with him to Ahmedabad, where they stayed for three months and got married in a temple. She also told her parents over the phone that she would not return home. They later went to Nepal.

“Although she has stated that she voluntarily went with the accused, she has nowhere stated that the accused had sex with her. There is no material to convict the accused for the offence of kidnapping, sexual assault or rape. The victim has stated that she falsely stated before the magistrate that she had sexual intercourse with the accused. I find nothing incriminating to convict the accused,” said presiding officer of the fast track special court (Pocso), Pooja Kavlekar.


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