NEKU KHAN Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Challenge in this appeal is to the judgment of a learned single Judge of the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur upholding the conviction of appellant No. 1 Neku Khan for offence punishable under Sections 376, 147, 323/149, 342, 458 and 366 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short the 'IPC'). The other appellants were convicted for offence punishable under Sections 147, 323/149, 342,458 and 366, IPC.

(2.) Prosecution version as unfolded during trial is as follows : Between the intervening night 13.9.1984 and 14.9.1984 Muse Khan (PW-2), Janu Khan (PW-4), Prosecutrix (PW-5), wife Reshma, Indro (PW-6) wife of Bakhsu Khan, Makhni (PW-7) wife of Sachchu Khan were sleeping at the house of Bakhsu Khan in village Raivada, accused persons Neku Khan, Bakhsu Khan, Barkat Khan, Ali Sher and Same Khan arrived on a Nisan vehicle, the accused Barkat was having the iron rod and the other persons were having lathis, they beat Muse Khan (PW-2) and placed Prosecutrix, daughter of Bakhsu in Nisan vehicle forcefully and went away, the accused Same Khan shut her mouth with hand and then got down at Gida village with Prosecutrix, for some time walked on foot, after a while the accused Same Khan came with a camel and made Prosecutrix ride the camel. Another man also rode and Neku Khan, Same Khan and Bakhsu Khan walked on feet and then took her to the Dadi of the accused, stripped her clothes and dressed her with new clothes and ornaments and then Neku Khan did bed work like husband-wife, she stayed there for two nights and for two nights Neku Khan did bed work with her, thereafter the police arrived there with her father, the accused persons ran away, the police brought her to Mandli Police Station. After completion of investigation charge-sheet was filed and since accused persons pleaded innocence they were put on trial. Dr. Mangi Lal Bohra (PW 1) has proved the injuries caused to Muse Khan on the date of incident by the accused persons while abducting the prosecutrix. PW-2 is Muse Khan who is brother of prosecutrix and he has deposed that he was asleep when he was assaulted. He saw the accused assaulting his brother and then saw them taking away his sister. The fact that Muse Khan was assaulted by the accused, stands corroborated by the evidence of Doctor who is completely independent witness. Ishaqu (PW 3) at whose place, the accused is alleged to have kept the prosecutrix. The prosecution has proved the state of prosecutrix at the place of Ishaqu (PW 3). (PW 4) Janu Khan, was also present when the abduction took place. He saw the accused assaulting Muse Khan and abducting the prosecutrix. He is the person who has lodged the report of the incident to the police. The testimony of Muse Khan that he was assaulted and abduction of prosecutrix is thus corroborated by testimony of Janu Khan. The prosecution version relied primarily on the evidence of Prosecutrix (PW 5). Two witnesses were examined by the appellant to show that the victim was married to appellant No. 1 and therefore there was no rape as contended and no abduction. The trial court and the High Court did not find any substance in the plea. They referred to the evidence of PWs 2, 4 and 5 and held the appellant guilty and directed conviction and imposed sentence as aforenoted.

(3.) In support of the appeal, learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the trial court and the High Court lost sight of the fact that the DWs 1 and 2 categorically stated about the marriage of the victim with appellant No. 1. That being so the question of any rape or abduction as claimed does not arise. It is further pointed out that there is no evidence to link the appellants 3 to 5 with the offence.