In Brief
P. Rajagopal, a wealthy hotel proprietor, was convicted of abducting a young married woman (PW1) and her husband in October 2001 with intent to marry PW1 as his third wife, despite her resistance and her living husband. The victim and mother's testimony established that Rajagopal orchestrated the abduction through accomplices, holding them in a go-down while threatening and assaulting the husband. The Supreme Court upheld their convictions under IPC Sections 365 and 352, rejecting the defence argument that delay in lodging the FIR (over one month) was fatal, finding the delay adequately explained by the victims' fear and surveillance. The Court affirmed that the victim's consistent, credible testimony established guilt beyond reasonable doubt."
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.