Court acquits youth of charge of raping minor girl

"From the testimony of prosecution witnesses (girl and her mother), it stands proved that the girl was more than 16 years of age and she herself willingly went with the accused," Additional Sessions Judge Madhu Jain said.

"He is aged around 21 years and if sent to judicial custody, his whole life and carrier would be ruined," the court added.

The judge absolved Delhi resident Mohammad Mujibur Rehman of the charges of raping the girl, but held him guilty of kidnapping, saying he removed the girl out of the custody of her legal guardians.

For kidnappping, the court sentenced him to nine months in jail, already undergone by him during the trial of the case.

"In the facts and circumstances of the case, the ends of justice would be met if Rehman is sentenced to undergo imprisonment for the period already undergone by him," the court said.

Rehman was arrested by the police in October 2011 on the complaint lodged by the victim's mother, who had alleged that he had kidnapped her daughter and had also raped her.

The girl, who belonged to a different religion, in her deposition before the court said she had willingly gone with Rehman.

Acquitting Rehman of rape charges, the judge said the girl had not said anything against the accused.

"She stated that she was having a love affair with the accused. She wanted to marry him but he showed his reluctance due to difference in their religions and also she being a minor," the court noted.