Man acquitted of rape, indicted for cheating

Man acquitted of rape, indicted for cheating

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 12, 2016: City sessions court on Mar 11, acquitted a 30-year-old resident Puttur of the charge of raping a 19-year-old girl.  But the court found him guilty of cheating as he had  sexual intercourse with the girl despite being married to another.

Sixth Additional District and Sessions Judge D.T. Puttarangaswamy passed the order in a case against Udaya V., who was arrested for allegedly raping the girl.

According to the charge sheet filed by the Puttur Town Police, the girl gave birth to a child at a hospital in Puttur on February 24, 2012. She told the doctor that she had sexual intercourse with the accused after the latter promised to marry her. She told the police that Udaya raped her when he had come to drink water at her house in May 2011.

She said Udaya had not told her that he was married to another girl.

Blood samples

The police arrested Udaya and then sent blood samples of Udaya, the girl and the child for DNA test. The test said Udaya was the biological father of the child.   However, during cross examination by counsel for the accused, the girl said that she knew Udaya and his family members for a long time. She also admitted that she was aware that Udaya was married to another girl when she was sexually assaulted. Treating this as sexual intercourse as done with consent, the judge acquitted Udaya of the offence of sexual assault.

Quantum of punishment  : The judge, however, convicted Udaya for the offence under Section 417 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.  The judge reserved till Monday the orders on the quantum of punishment and compensation to the victim.