In Brief
A 16-year-old girl in a consensual love affair with the appellant ran away with him. The High Court upheld his conviction for kidnapping under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC but acquitted him of rape. The Supreme Court held that a minor's consent is immaterial in kidnapping cases—the statute protects minors by vesting guardians with decision-making authority. However, the Court reduced his sentence from five years to time already served, finding it disproportionate given the absence of force, his young age at the offense (18–19 years), 22 years of rehabilitation, and the passion-driven, one-time nature of the crime. The appeal was partly allowed.
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