Court acquits man in a rape case

A Delhi court has acquitted a man accused of raping a woman on false promise of marriage, saying there were overwhelming inconsistencies in her deposition.
Additional Sessions Judge Nivedita Anil Sharma, while acquitting Delhi resident Prayag Sharma, said, "It is clear that the consent of the woman on the promise to marry cannot be said to be under a misconception of fact as she was a major at the time of the alleged incident.
"No inference can be drawn that Prayag is guilty of the charged offence under sections 376 IPC (rape) and 420 IPC (cheating) as the woman has made inconsistent statements due to which her testimony becomes unreliable and unworthy of credence," the court said.

According to the prosecution, the woman met the accused while pursuing a computer course at an institute here and they became friends subsequently.
In November 2007, the accused finding her alone allegedly allured her to have sexual relation with him by professing his love and promised to marry her, it had said.
Thereafter, he continued having sexual relations with her on the false promise of marriage, it had submitted.

The prosecution had contended that the woman did not object to the man's acts as he had assured he would marry her but later when a friend told her that Prayag was planning to marry somebody else, she had reported the matter to the police.

The man was arrested by the officials of Nangloi Police Station here.
During the trial, Prayag had claimed he was innocent and that he had been falsely implicated in the case.
"This court is completely satisfied that the prosecution has failed to bring home the charge against the accused... Accordingly, Prayag Sharma, is hereby acquitted of the charges," the judge said.