RANJEET LOHRA Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This criminal appeal is directed against the judgment of conviction and sentence dated 21-8-1998 passed by Shri D. P. Singh, 1st Additional Judicial Commissioner, Ranchi, in Sessions Trial No. 157 of 1997, whereby and whereunder the learned Additional Judicial Commissioner, Ranchi, convicted the appellant for the offences under Sections 366 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years on each count.

(2.) The prosecution case in brief is that the informant Sharda Devi lodged a first information report alleging therein that she resides in the Marwari Womens College Campus, Ranchi and the accused/appellant Ranjeet Lohra used to visit her house. It is further alleged that on 10-9-1976 Kaushalya Devi, the mother of the accused-appellant came to her house and talked with her daughter Lalita. Thereafter Lalita left the house by saying that she is going to her friend's house. She came to know later on that her daughter Lalita was seen going towards Bazar with the appellant-Ranjeet Lohra. On enquiry from Kaushalya, she did not reply satisfactorily. It was alleged that the appellant-Ranjeet Lohra took away her daughter who is aged about 16 years with a purpose to marry. Accordingly, the first information report was registered. The police investigated into the case and submitted charge-sheet.

(3.) The appellant appeared before the Court below and charges under Sections 366, 376, 328 and 342 of the Indian Penal Code were framed against the two accused persons, namely accused-appellant Ranjeet Lohra and accused Kaushalya Devi, the mother of the appellant. However the trial Court did not find the case being substantiated by the prosecution and as such accused Kaushlya Devi was acquitted from the charges.