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Punjab and Haryana High Court
Decided on: 22.04.2022

Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860), Section 376 – Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), Section 389 -- Conviction in rape case – Suspension of sentence during pendency of appeal – Bare perusal of the case of the prosecution reveals a consensual relationship between the applicant and the prosecutrix/ an adult lady aged 35 years having two children and she entered into the relationship with the applicant with her eyes open; only if such relationship could not result in a logical end she cannot be allowed to come and allege rape by the applicant; there was no medical evidence, such an eventuality arose on account of refusal by the prosecutrix to undergo a medical examination; no private witness was examined by the prosecution; only after the applicant got married did the prosecutrix allege that the relationship between them was without her consent showing falsity in her claim; the applicant has undergone over ten months of custody; during the course of his trial he was on bail which concession he did not misuse and that the appeal filed by the applicant, which has been admitted for regular hearing, is not likely to be heard in the near future – Considering totality of facts, sentence of the applicant ordered to be suspended.

(Para 2-4)

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