RANJEET MANDAL Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD the learned counsel for the appellants and learned counsel for the State.

(2.) THE instant appeal is directed against the judgment of conviction and sentence dated 16th May, 2002 passed by Sri Sita Ram Mahto, Special Judge -cum -1st Additional Sessions Judge, Deoghar in Special Case No 2 of 2001 by which judgment, learned Court, has found the appellants guilty for the offence under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced them to undergo R.I. for 10 years. Both the appellants were further acquitted from the charges for the offence under Section 3(i) and (xi) of the S.C./S.T. (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

(3.) ON the other hand learned counsel for the State has opposed the prayer and submitted that the prosecution has fully explained the delay in lodging the FIR which has been accepted by the trial Court and in that view of the matter there is no doubt in the statement of the victim girls who have given a detailed version of the occurrence of rape which was committed by the appellants when they were crossing the arhar field. As such, the impugned order of sentence requires no interference by this Court.