A rape accused was declared not guilty and acquitted by the Fast Track Special Court, Manipur on Tuesday.
The accused, Nongmaithem Sanahal Singh, 22, son of Ranjit of Khongjom Sapam Mamang Leikai, Thoubal district was arrested for allegedly outraging the modesty of a minor girl in February, 2019.
In connection with a complaint report filed by the girl’s father at Women police station, Thoubal on February 27, 2019, an FIR was registered and an investigation was launched.
The accused Sanahal surrendered to the said police station on March 1 of the same year and remanded to police custody for five days as a part of the investigation.
The investigating officer of the case submitted a chargesheet to special judge (POCSO), Thoubal on February 28, 2020 .
Later, the case was transferred to the fast track court. In the court, the defence counsels advocate Rk Angousana and K Sarjubala pointed out that there is inordinate delay in lodging the FIR by the complainant to the police and the prosecution has failed to properly explain the delay in the FIR.
Moreover, there is no document to show the place of occurrence of the offense and the statement of the victim is inadmissible evidence, the defence counsels stated.
The present case is also not corroborated by any independent witnesses and by medical evidence along with the forensic examination report, the defence counsels added.
After hearing arguments of both counsels, the court concluded that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond all reasonable doubt on the charge leveled against the accused.
Hence, accused Nongmaithem Sanahal Singh has been acquitted by the court from the offence, which is punishable under Section 376 of the IPC, the court stated.
