Baramati rape case: Convict acquitted

Bombay High court has acquitted a 33-year-old Baramati resident who was convicted by the Baramati Sessions court for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl from his village and was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment. The High court, while turning down the Sessions court's decision, held that the evidence of the victim is not corroborated by medical or any other evidence, thus, under these circumstances, the accused cannot be convicted on the sole testimony of the victim.

According to the prosecution, the accused Hasab Zari, resident of Baramati had allegedly raped a teen on the pretext of dropping her home on November 13, 2009. The girl as on her way to home from school after playing with her friends near a temple. As she got late looking for her shoes, Zari allegedly offered to drop her home. Instead of taking her home, the accused allegedly took her to a jungle and raped her. The accused allegedly tied her hands on her back with a rope, and also tied her mouth with nylon cloth.

After the incident, the victim disclosed its occurance only a day later as she was allegedly threatened by the accused with dire consequences.

Advocate Gazala Sheikh, appearing on behalf of Zari while speaking to DNA said, "After the incident, police did not recover the rope and nylon cloth immediately. It was recovered a day after the panchanama of the spot was drawn.

Also, medical reports claimed that as the victim was menstruating that day, there were no detailed medical tests that supported the evidence. Also, there were no injuries on her body or her private part. Thus, all the evidence was not corroborated, and hence the sessions court had passed judgment just on the basis of the victims statement."