Thane court acquits man accused of rape, intimidation

A court in Maharashtras Thane district has acquitted a 36yearold man accused of raping and threatening a woman citing that she had failed to support her version of events reported news agency PTIAdditional sessions judge Amit M Shete acquitted the man a native of Uttar Pradesh of charges under sections 376 rape and 506 criminal intimidation of the Indian Penal Code reported PTIA copy of the order dated February 7 was made available on MondayThe prosecution alleged that the accused who is the victims relative raped her at her residence in Mira Road in May 2017 and reportedly threatened to release objectionable material reported PTIThe accused allegedly raped the woman on multiple occasions between June 6 and June 26 2017 A police complaint was subsequently lodgedJudge Shete noted that the victim had failed to support her own version and emphasised that according to her medical report there was no evidence of any injury over the body reported PTIThe absence of injuries as the court observed was suggestive of consensual intercourse with the accused the court said reported PTIThe court also took into account that the alleged accused had later married the victimThane court discharges man in 2008 kidnapping rape caseA court in Maharashtras Thane district court discharged a man in a 17yearold kidnapping and rape case citing delays and changed circumstances as he had married the victim reported PTIThe sessions court discharged Siddhik Sirajul Raheman Shaikh 39 in a case registered against him in 2008 under sections 366A kidnapping and 376 rape of the Indian Penal Code reported PTIA copy of the order passed on February 13 was made available on SundayThe prosecution alleged that on January 25 2008 the victim who was 16 at the time failed to return home from college Her father subsequently lodged a missing report and a probe revealed that she was in a relationship with the accused who lived in their neighbourhood in KalwaThe accused had travelled to his hometown in West Bengal with the girl where they reportedly got marriedAdditional sessions judge Amit M Shete noted that considerable time had passed and the circumstances surrounding the case had significantly changed reported PTIThe court stated that even if the charge of rape had sufficient material for conviction the victim would be the one to suffer the most as her husband would be imprisonedThe victim and accused have performed nikah and are living as husband and wife At this belated stage prosecuting the accused for the serious offence of rape would not be proper the court said reported PTIThe judge further pointed out that the victim witnesses and accused were untraceable for a considerable period and therefore after following due procedure the present trial was on a dormant stage and there was no possibility of securing their presence in futureThe court accordingly discharged Shaikh from all charges levelled against himWith inputs from PTI