All accused in Nayagaon rape case acquitted

Rupnagar, Jun 7 (UNI) Sessions Judge U S Gera today acquitted all the 14 accused including a Sub Inspector of police in the Nayagaon rape case, in which all the key witnesses including alleged victim and her parents turned hostile.

As per prosecution story a minor girl of Khuda Ali Sher, daughter of a police constable, who was raped by a group of people at different place gave birth to a male child on March 1, 2003, at PGI Chandigarh. Thereafter, a case of rape was registered at Mohali on March 7 on the complaint of the girl.

It was alleged that the accused got filed a writ in the Punjab and Haryana High Court from the girl and her parents by threatening them for withdrawal of the case. The family was kidnapped, kept in illegal detention and then taken to a court where the accused, including SHO Amarpreet Singh got recorded statement under Section 164 CrPC in which no mention of any rape was made.

The girl, and her parents filed a writ petition in Punjab and Haryana High Court on October 15, 2003 seeking justice in the matter. On May 31, 2005, the High Court ordered the investigation of the case by a Special Investigating Team headed by IG Sumedh Saini.

Thereafter, a number of accused were arrested by the police.

on the completion of the investigation, challan was filed in the court of Rupnagar Sessions Judge under sections 376, 364, 365, 366-A, 344, 213, 218, 506, 509, 120-B of IPC, 25, 27 of Arms Act, 8,9,13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and 3(10)(xii) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) against the accused.

While some of those mentioned in the intial charge sheet were acquitted, the court finally framed charges against 14 accused.

During the trial all the key witnesses including the complainant girl, and her parents turned hostile and did not support the prosecution. The girl denied that she was raped or harassed by the accused.

After the completion of arguments by Public Prosecutor, Pradeep Mehta and defence counsels Manoj Kumar and H S Paul, Sessions Judge U S Gera pronounced the judgment today, acquitting all the 14 accused.

Meanwhile,reacting to the decision of the court in the case,the District Attorney Pradeep Mehta said that further course of action in the matter would be decided after studying the judgement.

UNI XC HS PDT RAI2101