Duo rots in jail on false plaint

The police have found out that Ali, 19, and Iqbal, 20 (names changed), are innocent and had been falsely accused of raping by 16-year-old Geeta (name changed).

However, the two boys are still in jail since a case had been registered against them. They were booked under Sections 376 (G), 366(A) and 342 of the Indian Penal Code for rape, kidnapping a minor and illegal confinement. “The girl invented this story of having gone missing on September 17, only to return on the 19th. But it was soon found that she had gone to Vadodara by herself and had stayed with acquaintances,” said Praveen Salunkhe, additional police commissioner (central).

The police said  the accused had claimed innocence. But considering that the girl had been missing for two days and confided in her mother of being gang raped, the police lodged an FIR. The police realised the truth only after the medical report showed no trace of sexual abuse. “It is unfortunate that the boys had to go through this. But with enough evidence to substantiate their innocence, the case can be closed by prosecution of the complainant. We will decide on our further course of action once she is traced,” Salunkhe said.