Man accused of raping co-worker acquitted

NEW DELHI: A Delhi Court on Friday acquitted a man of the charge of raping a co-worker after finding that the prosecution was not 'free of doubt'.

"After having given a thoughtful consideration to the matter, I find that the prosecution case is not free of doubt. Burden of proof in criminal case is much higher than in civil case. The evidence led in the present case falls short of standard," Additional Sessions Judge OP Gupta said.

The court exonerated 36-year-old Ashok, a native of Darbhanga district in Bihar, of the charges under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC, saying that the benefit of doubt was given to him.

The Judge also noted that the forensic report has not supported the case of the prosecution and there was also no corroboration of the accusation in the medical report.

A case was registered with Uttam Nagar police station in West Delhi after the 22-year-old woman made a statement alleging that the accused, who used to work with her in a metal factory, had raped her on October 24, 2005.