JUDGEMENT
S.TALAPATRA,J. -
(1.)These two appeals being CRL.A. No.10 of 2012 [the State of Tripura vs. Sri Dilip
Guha] and CRL.A.(J) No.05 of 2013 [Sri Dilip Guha vs. State of Tripura] are
consolidated for disposal by a common judgment for the reason that those appeals
emerge from the judgment of conviction dated 31.08.2012 and the consequential
order of sentence dated 01.09.2012 delivered in case No.S.T.37 (WT/K) of 2010 by
the Addl. Sessions Judge, West Tripura, Khowai, as it then was. It is to be
noted at the outset that the appeal being CRL.A. No.10 of 2012 has been filed by
the State under Section 377(1) of the Cr.P.C. for enhancing the sentence whereas
the appeal being CRL.A.(J) No.05 of 2013 has been filed by the convict,
hereinafter referred to as the appellant, under Section 374(2) of the Cr.P.C.
from the judgment and order of conviction and sentence respectively dated
31.8.2012 and 1.9.2012. For convenience sake, the appellant-state would only be referred to as the State. By the judgment dated 31.08.2012, the appellant has
been convicted under Section 376(2) (a) (i) of IPC and 120B of the IPC. Pursuant
to the said judgment of conviction dated 31.08.2012, the appellant has been
sentenced to suffer 10[ten] years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs.
10,000/-, with default stipulation for committing the offence punishable under Section 376 (2) (a) (i) of IPC. The appellant has further been sentenced to
suffer rigorous imprisonment for 2[two] years and fine of Rs.5,000/- with
default stipulation for committing the offence punishable under Section 120B of
the IPC.
(2.)Briefly stated the prosecution's case is that on 28.10.2010, one Amulya Das [PW-1] lodged the written complaint to the Officer-in-Charge, Kalyanpur Police
Station revealing that from 26.10.2010 his minor daughter, hereinafter would be
referred to as the victim for protecting her identity, was missing while
returning from the house of one Yogeshwar Nath Sharma. The minor daughter of the
informant used to work as the domestic aide in the house of said Yogeshwar Nath
Sharma. But it has been also stated that after completing her job in the house
of Yogeshwar Nath Sharma, she came to her own house at 11.30 am. Thereafter,
daughter of Surendra Das, namely Minati Das [Rani] kidnapped her from the road.
The victim came back to her residence on 27.10.2010 at about 10.30 am. At that
time, the victim, in response to query, stated that Minati @ Rani enticed her
and had taken her to the quarters of one Dilip Guha [the appellant], the O.C. On
the previous evening, his daughter had to take huge quantity of liquor and as
consequence, his daughter lost her senses. In that state of condition, his
daughter [the victim] was raped throughout the night. In that act, Minati @ Rani
aided the appellant.
(3.)Based on the said written ejahar, Kalyanpur P.S. Case No.72/2010 under Sections 366-A and 376 of the IPC was registered and taken up for investigation.
On completion of investigation, the police report under Section 173(2) of the
Cr.P.C. was filed. As the offence is exclusively triable by the court of
Sessions, the police papers were committed to the court of the Addl. Sessions
Judge, West Tripura, Khowai, hereinafter referred to as the trial court. The
trial court having taken the cognizance framed the charge separately against
Minati Das @ Rani and the appellant. For purpose of reference and in order to
avoid any confusion, it would be apposite to reproduce the charge as framed
separately against two accused persons viz. Minati Das @ Rani and Dilip Guha
[the appellant]:
Charges as framed against Minati Das @ Rani
Firstly, that on 26.10.10 at about 12.00 hrs pursuance to your agreement with
Dilip Guha, co-accused of this case, you induced Kumari X, D/o: Sri Amulya Das
S/o Lt. Harimohan Das of Kalyanpur, under Kalyanpur P.S for visiting his house
to reach at Kamalpur in the residential quarters of Dilip Guha, O.C. of Kamalpur
P.S. with a view that said Kumari X be raped by Dilip Guha and thereby you have
committed an offence punishable under section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code
and within my cognizance.
Secondly, that on the aforesaid date and time, pursuance to your agreement with
Dilip Guha, co-accused of this case, you induced Kumari X, D/o Sri Amulya Das to
accompany you from her house situated at Kalyanpur to Kamalpur in the Govt.
Quarters of Dilip Guha, O.C. of Kamalpur P.S. you intend that said Kumari X
might be forced or seduced to illicit intercourse by Dilip Guha and thus you
have committed an offence punishable under section 366(A) of the Indian Penal
Code and within my cognizance.
Thirdly, that in the intervening date between 26.10.10 and 27.10.10 at night
between 1900 hrs to 0500 hrs on the following day in the Govt. quarters of
Kamalpur P.S. which was allotted to Dilip Guha, O.C. of said P.S you abated
Dilip Guha in committing offence of rape against X, D/o: Sri Amulya Das of
Kalyanpur under Kalyanpur P.S and you were present at the time of said offence
in pursuance to your abatement and thus, you have committed an offence of
abatement of offence of rape punishable under section 114 of Indian Penal Code
read with section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and within my cognizance.
And
"I hereby direct that you be tried on the said charges."
Charges as framed against the appellant
Firstly, that on 26.10.10 at about 12 noon, you caused Smt, Minati Das @ Rani,
pursuance to your previous meeting of mind, to induce X, D/o: Sri Amulya Das,
S/o: Lt. Harimohan Das of Kalyanpur, under Kalyanpur P.S. to accompany Minati
Das with a view to reach at your Govt. quarters which is the ear-marked quarters
of the O.C. Kamalpur P.S. for causing rape on her by you and you thereby
committed an offence of criminal conspiracy punishable under section 120(B) of
the Indian Penal Code and within my cognizance.
Secondly, that in the intervening date between 26.10.10 and 27.10.10 at night
between 1900 hrs to 0500 hrs of the following day, in your Govt. Quarters of
Kamalpur P.S. which was allotted to you as O.C. of said P.S. you committed
sexual intercourse on a minor girl namely Kumari X, D/o Sri Amulya Das of
Kalyanpur under Kalyanpur P.S., District West Tripura, forcefully against her
will and against her consent being a police officer of Kamalpur P.S. within the
limit of that P.S. and thereby you committed an offence of rape punishable under
section 376(2)(a)(i) of the Indian Penal code and within my cognizance.
AND
"I hereby direct that you be tried on the said charges."
Both the accused persons pleaded not guilty, raised the plea of innocence and
claimed for trial.
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