Youth acquitted in rape case

A youth, accused of kidnapping and raping a 17-year-old girl, has been acquitted by a Delhi court after the minor said she wanted to live with him as they were already married and that she would be becoming a mother soon.
The court freed the 19-year-old boy, saying there is no law mandating that "poor and ignorant persons" cannot fall in love and even if the "zalim (cruel) society" recognizes it or not, they both are "married couple" for all practical purposes.
Additional Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma said the girl, who was 16 years-and-three-months-old at the time of incident in January this year, had willingly eloped with the youth and he had not forced her for maintaining sexual relations.

The court also observed that as the girl has been disowned by her family, her welfare demands that she should be allowed to live with her husband, a Delhi resident, and directed 'Nirmal Chhaya', a remand home, to release her forthwith.
It sent a copy of its order to the Chairperson of 'Nirmal Chhaya' for information and necessary compliance.
"There is no law that mandates that poor and ignorant persons cannot fall in love and/or cannot join in matrimony or communion.

"I read somewhere a meaningful quote that 'love knows no reason, no boundaries, no distance. It has a sole intention of bringing people together to a time called forever'," the judge said, rejecting the prosecutor's argument that the accused had only applied vermilion on the girl's forehead and they had not taken 'satpheras' for marriage.

According to the prosecution, the girl, a native of Bihar, was residing in Delhi with her brother and uncle and became friendly with the youth and fell in love with him.
The relationship was resented by the girl's uncle and aunt and at their instance, her brother used to abuse and beat her.
The couple eloped on January 19 and went to Bihar, their native place, and stayed there for four months as husband and wife, the police said.
It said that the girl's brother had lodged a case against the boy alleging that he had taken her away to get married despite the family's objections and they came back to Delhi after they came to know about the case.