New Delhi:
The "contradictory versions" of the parents of a girl regarding her age has led to acquittal of a man in a kidnapping-cum-rape case by a Delhi court. The court said the girl's actual age was "deliberately withheld".
The court noted the parents of the girl, who were the "best evidence" to depose regarding her actual age, had not given satisfactory reply during the trial.
The girl had mentioned her age as 17 years in her statement recorded in 2007 and 2009 respectively.
It also said the certificate, issued in the girl's name by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi mentioning her date of birth as July 19, 1992, was also "disowned" by her parents.
"The birth certificate (of MCD) was not corroborated at all by the best evidence on the record i.e. the deposition of the parents of the girl, who appeared and almost disowned the said certificate in the said answers given by them in their respective cross examination," Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Tewari said.
The court acquitted Manoj, a resident of Nangloi here, who was accused of kidnapping and raping the girl on September 8, 2007.
According to the police, on September 8, 2007, the girl's father had told them his daughter was missing and Manoj, who was their neighbour, was also found missing.
During investigation, the girl was found and her statement was recorded before a magistrate. In her statement, the girl claimed to have gone on her own to Manoj and they had gone to Haridwar.
She said the two got married in Haridwar at a temple and remained there for two days. She said Manoj was innocent and she was responsible for her actions.
During the trial, Manoj had also pleaded innocence.
The court noted the parents of the girl, who were the "best evidence" to depose regarding her actual age, had not given satisfactory reply during the trial.
The girl had mentioned her age as 17 years in her statement recorded in 2007 and 2009 respectively.
It also said the certificate, issued in the girl's name by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi mentioning her date of birth as July 19, 1992, was also "disowned" by her parents.
"The birth certificate (of MCD) was not corroborated at all by the best evidence on the record i.e. the deposition of the parents of the girl, who appeared and almost disowned the said certificate in the said answers given by them in their respective cross examination," Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Tewari said.
The court acquitted Manoj, a resident of Nangloi here, who was accused of kidnapping and raping the girl on September 8, 2007.
According to the police, on September 8, 2007, the girl's father had told them his daughter was missing and Manoj, who was their neighbour, was also found missing.
During investigation, the girl was found and her statement was recorded before a magistrate. In her statement, the girl claimed to have gone on her own to Manoj and they had gone to Haridwar.
She said the two got married in Haridwar at a temple and remained there for two days. She said Manoj was innocent and she was responsible for her actions.
During the trial, Manoj had also pleaded innocence.
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