In Brief
A man was acquitted by the trial court for rape and criminal intimidation of a mentally disabled woman. The State's High Court appeal succeeded and reversed the acquittal, convicting him for rape under Section 376 IPC and intimidation under Section 506 IPC, imposing seven years imprisonment. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction, holding the High Court was justified in re-appreciating the evidence. Medical evidence conclusively showed the victim had an IQ of 62 (mild mental retardation) and could not understand the nature and consequences of sexual acts. DNA confirmed the accused fathered her child. His Section 313 defence was total denial rather than claiming consent. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, emphasizing that while appellate courts must give weight to acquittals, they can interfere when the trial court's reasoning is demonstrably unsustainable.
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