New Delhi

Man acquitted in rape-abduction case

NEW DELHI: A court here has acquitted a 32-year-old man accused of criminally assaulting a 19-year-old girl and then kidnapping her with the intention of compelling her to marry him two years ago. The court said the victim was a consenting party.

Additional Sessions Judge Bharat Parashar acquitted Dhirendra Singh, a resident of Nangloi, saying perusal of records showed that the girl had accompanied the accused of her own will and played an active role by helping the accused (in taking her away) as a consenting party.

The court said there was no evidence to indicate that the accused had committed the offence against the victim’s consent or had induced her away from the custody of her lawful guardians.

According to the prosecution, Dhirendra had criminally assaulted the girl when he found her alone in the house on February 14, 2006. He then kidnapped her to Shahdara with the intention of forcing her to marry him. The girl was later rescued and the accused was arrested.

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