KING VICTOR CH. MARAK Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appeal is directed against a judgment of conviction of June 29, 2022 and the resultant order passed on July 4, 2022.

(2.) The appellant herein has been convicted under Sec. 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 read with Sec. 376(2) of the Penal Code, 1860 and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fined Rs.40,000.00. In default of payment of the fine, the appellant has been sentenced to further simple imprisonment for six months.

(3.) The appellant denies having committed rape or aggravated penetrative sexual assault. According to the appellant, it was clearly brought out in course of the evidence adduced on behalf of the appellant that the survivor had not come to the appellant's house on the relevant date. The appellant also claims that there was a motive for the survivor's family to prompt the survivor to cook up the allegations against the appellant, since there was a quarrel pertaining to a boundary dispute between the properties of the appellant's family and the survivor's family.