Rape victim turns hostile, HC orders recovery of compensation

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the authorities to recover the compensation paid, if any, to a minor girl who didn't stand by her complaint of rape during the trial.

The high court passed the order while granting bail to the accused, himself a minor. Though a minor, he is being tried as an adult person in view of the serious nature of the crime.

The youth is in a jail since July last year. The trial court had rejected his bail plea twice.

Justice S K Palo granted him bail last week.

"If any compensation has been given to the prosecutrix (complainant) under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the state government, the same may be recovered from her," the high court said.

According to the prosecution, the accused sexually assaulted the girl last July when she and her aunt stepped out of their house to relieve themselves.

During the bail hearing, the lawyer representing the accused's pointed out that witnesses, including the complainant girl, have turned hostile during the ongoing trial.