New Delhi [India], April 22 (HBTV): The Patiala House Special Court in Delhi has acquitted three individuals in a rape case, ruling that the allegations made by the complainant against her 68-year-old father-in-law were based on a false statement.

In its judgment, the court observed: ‘Upon careful scrutiny of the facts and evidence, and guided by established legal principles, this court finds the testimony of the prosecutrix riddled with material contradictions and inconsistencies. Her statements throughout the investigation and trial have been inconsistent, undermining her credibility. The testimony fails to inspire confidence and falls short of the sterling quality required. Under the given circumstances, it would be highly unsafe to convict the accused based solely on the uncorroborated testimony of the prosecutrix.’

The case revolved around allegations made by a woman against her father-in-law, who was 68 years old at the time of the alleged incident. The complainant, reportedly dissatisfied with her marital life, accused him of rape and claimed that he had forcibly made her ingest a chemical substance, commonly referred to as All Out, in an attempt to kill her.

Advocate Ravi Drall, representing the accused, argued that the allegations were a consequence of marital discord that had been exaggerated into a serious criminal charge.

‘It is inconceivable that a 68-year-old man, who is physically incapacitated, could commit such an act against a woman 40 years younger than him,’ Drall stated.

During the trial, Drall pointed out multiple contradictions in the complainant’s statements. Despite being educated, she was unable to recall the date of the alleged incident, although she gave detailed accounts of other events from the same period. This inconsistency raised further doubts about her credibility.

The poisoning allegations were also dismissed based on scientific evidence. Medical examination records indicated that a gastric lavage sample was collected by the investigating officer and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). According to the FSL report, no poison, ethyl alcohol, or pesticide was detected.

After thoroughly examining the evidence and arguments presented, the court acquitted all three accused.

While issuing the verdict, the court remarked: ‘The investigation in this case has been conducted very casually and recklessly. The call detail records and the location of mobile numbers could be of significance. In the cross-examination, the investigating officer stated that although a request for the CDR of the accused’s mobile number was sent, it was not collected.’

The court also noted a concerning trend: ‘In matrimonial cases, there is an increasing tendency to file complaints under Section 376 of the IPC against in-laws or other male members of the husband’s family as a means to exert pressure on the entire family.’

(ANI)