Court acquits rape accused, declares not guilty
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 06 2023:
A youth accused of outraging modesty of a minor girl in February 2019 has been acquitted during the hearing conducted in the Fast Track Special Court, Manipur Number 2 on Tuesday.
In connection with the complaint report filed by the girl's father at Women police station, Thoubal against one Nongmaithem Sanahal Singh (22), son of Ranjit of Khongjom Sapam Mamang Leikai on February 27, 2019, an FIR was registered and investigation launched.
The accused Sanahal then surrendered to the said police station on March 1 of the same year and remanded to police custody for five days as a part of the investigation.
The investigating officer (IO) of the case submitted a charge sheet to special judge (POCSO), Thoubal on February 28, 2020 .
Later, the case was transferred to the fast track court.
In the court, the defence counsels advocate Rk Angousana and K Sarjubala pointed out that there is inordinate delay in lodging the FIR by the complainant to the police and the prosecution has failed to properly explain the delay in the FIR.
Moreover, there is no document to show the place of occurrence of the offence and the statement of the victim is inadmissible evidence.
The present case is also not corroborated by any independent witnesses and by medical evidence along with forensic examination report, the defence counsels added.
After hearing arguments of both counsels, the court concluded that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond all reasonable doubt on the charge levelled against the accused.
Hence, accused Nongmaithem Sanahal Singh has been acquitted by the court from the offence, which is punishable under Section 376 of the IPC.