Abettor In Rape Case Will Face Same Punishment As Rape Accused; Bombay HC Dismisses Convict's Appeal in POCSO Case [Read Judgment]

Justice VM Deshpande of the Nagpur bench heard Ramteke's appeal and concluded that he was abettor and he abetted co-accused Golu to commit rape on the victim, a minor girl.

Case Background

According to the victim's statement to Swati Lokhande, a police naik, on August 10, 2017, she along with her friend Anjali was going to their friend Harsha's house for obtaining her homework notebook when she was called by Sunil Ramteke, who then caught hold of her and took her to the house of Golu Barsagade (co-accused in the case).

Then, she was pushed by the appellant inside Golu's house and he latched the room from outside. As per the victim, Ramteke then said from outside in Marathi- "Golu La Jamvu De, Tula Kiti Paise Pahij Te Mi Deto", meaning let Golu have sex with you, whatever money you want I will give you.

Thereafter, aco-accused Golu removed the victim's clothes and committed rape on her. In the meanwhile, Anjali got the victim's sister Kajal who took the victim out of Golu's house. The victim stated that Golu threatened her and Kajal that if the said incident is disclosed publicly, she (victim) will be defamed in the society. However, on August 9, 2017 victim experienced pain in her abdomen and disclosed the incident to her grand-mother. Following this, they went to the police station where the victim gave her statement.

Judgment

The Extra Joint Additional Sessions Judge charged Ramteke under Sections 354, 354A, 506 and 109 read with Section 376(2)(i)(j) of IPC and under Section 16 read with Section 3, 4 of POCSO, whereas he charged co-accused Golu for the offence punishable under Sections 376(2)(i)(j), 506 and 342 read with Section 34 of IPC and under Sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act. Both the accused denied all charges and claimed for their trial.

The trial judge concluded that the victim had no reason to falsely implicate the accused in the case and sentenced Ramteke to ten years and Golu was also sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

Dr. Priyanka Shelar examined the victim and concluded that there was a sexual assault committed on the victim. Furthermore, the Court referred to Chemical Analyser's report and noted-

"As per the Chemical Analyser's report, the undergarment of the victim was stained with blood and no explanation is there. Finding undergarment stained with blood, in my view, is an incriminating circumstance especially when nothing is brought on record to show that during said period the victim was in her menses."

Court also rejected the argument by appellant's lawyer that the victim consented for sex and observed-

"There was no reason for the victim to falsely implicate the appellant. It is not the case of the victim that the appellant has committed rape on her. She has disclosed the truth before the Court that she was pushed inside the house of Golu and then asked the victim that she should allow co-accused Golu to have sex with her and for that she will be rewarded with money. In my view, the submission of the learned counsel for the appellant that the victim was a consenting party has to be shown the exit door outrightly in view of the fact that the victim was minor and was "child" within the meaning of the provisions of the POCSO Act."

Section 109 of IPC states-

"Punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment - Whoever abets any offence shall, if the act abetted is committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made by this Code for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with the punishment provided for the offence."

Finally, the appeal was dismissed and Justice Deshpande said-

"Evidence of the prosecution witnesses would clearly establish that it is the appellant who has intentionally extended aid to the co-accused to commit rape on the victim. The evidence on record has established that when the victim was pushed inside by the appellant, he latched the door from outside and not only that, he guarded the house from outside. Further, he tried to prevent Kajal from taking entry inside the house. That shows that the appellant was having active role in commission of the offence of rape by co-accused Golu.

The acts committed by the appellant which are duly proved by the victim and other prosecution witnesses, in my view, proves that the appellant was abettor and he abetted co-accused Golu to commit rape on the victim, a minor girl."

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