{"id":357239,"date":"2025-08-21T11:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T05:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=357239"},"modified":"2025-08-25T10:01:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T04:31:52","slug":"bom-hc-paternal-uncle-acquitted-in-sexual-assault-non-examination-of-key-witnesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/08\/21\/bom-hc-paternal-uncle-acquitted-in-sexual-assault-non-examination-of-key-witnesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Paternal Uncle set free after 10 years as Bombay HC quashes conviction in 3-year-old niece\u2019s sexual assault case due to non-examination of victim and insufficient evidence"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Bombay High Court:<\/span> In an appeal filed by the Appellant against the judgment of Additional Sessions Judge, Nashik, dated 30-09-2015, convicting him under Sections 376(2)(f)<\/a>, 377<\/a>, and 363<\/a> of the Penal Code, 1860<\/a> (‘IPC’), the Division Bench of Suman Shyam*<\/span> and Shyam C. Chandak, JJ., allowed the appeal and held that the failure to examine the victim or the Police Sub-Inspector (‘PSI’) without any explanation amounted to denial of a fair trial. The Court emphasised that this deprived the Accused of an opportunity to prove his innocence and concluded that the conviction under Sections 376(2)(f)<\/a> and 377<\/a> IPC<\/a> was liable to be set aside by giving the benefit of doubt.<\/p>\n

Background:<\/h3>\n

The victim, aged about 3 years at the time of the incident, was taken from her mother’s custody by the Accused on 03-10-2013 around 10 a.m. on the pretext of buying new dresses. She did not return home, and a missing complaint was lodged the same day, followed by a report the next day. After four days, the victim was found at Mumbra Railway Station by a search team, in a naked condition with her knicker removed. She was shifted to the police station, where she complained of pain in her lower abdomen. Upon examination, her mother found injuries and swelling in her private parts. When asked, the victim narrated that the Accused had sexually assaulted her by removing her knicker, inserting his private part into hers, shutting her mouth, and slapping her when she cried.<\/p>\n

After recording prosecution evidence, the Accused’s statement was recorded under Section 313<\/a> of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973<\/a> (‘CrPC’), where he denied all incriminating circumstances. He claimed innocence and stated he was falsely implicated due to a property dispute with his brother. He did not adduce any evidence. On conclusion of trial, the Judge convicted him under Sections 376(2)(f)<\/a>, 377<\/a>, and 363<\/a> IPC<\/a> and sentenced him to life imprisonment under Sections 376(2)(f) and 377 and to three years under Section 363<\/a> of the IPC<\/a> with fines, and all sentences were to run concurrently. Aggrieved by the order, the accused approach the High Court.<\/p>\n

Analysis and Decision:<\/h3>\n

The Court emphasised that although the prosecution had established that the Accused had taken the victim from her mother’s custody, the fact remained that she was found after four days at a railway station, lying in front of a hut. The Court pointed out that the station, being a public place, had many travellers daily, yet no witness was examined who saw the victim with the Accused at Mumbra Railway Station. The Court further noted that there was no explanation as to how she reached there, since the four-day gap was substantial, and there was nothing on record about what the victim went through during that time. Therefore, her testimony was essential, and the Court could not presume that only the Accused had sexually abused her.<\/p>\n

The Court referred to Reena Hazarika v. State of Assam<\/span>, (2019)13 SCC 289<\/a>, wherein it was held that without the requisite facts and circumstances, it would not be sufficient to shift the onus upon the Accused under Section 106<\/a> of the Evidence Act, 1872<\/a> (‘Evidence Act’). The Court highlighted that in a criminal case, persuasive burden under Section 101<\/a> of the Evidence Act<\/a> to establish the charge beyond reasonable doubt would always lie on the prosecution and the said burden will never shift upon the Accused. The Court further clarified that in cases of secretive offences, the Accused had a burden under Section 106<\/a> of the Evidence Act<\/a> to explain facts within his knowledge, including how the victim suffered injury and failure to do so could raise a presumption of guilt, but only if the prosecution had first established all links in the chain of circumstances.<\/p>\n

The Court emphasised that, save and except for the fact that the Accused had taken the victim from her mother’s custody on 03-10-2013 for buying garments, there was no other evidence connecting him with the alleged sexual assault. The Court noted that there was not even an iota of evidence indicating what transpired until the child’s recovery from Mumbra Railway Station, as the prosecution had also failed to adduce any forensic evidence linking the Accused to the offence.<\/p>\n

The Court further observed that the conduct of the Accused in forcefully taking the victim from her mother’s custody, not returning home, and failing to offer any plausible explanation raised strong suspicion of wrongdoing, however, law was well settled that suspicion, howsoever strong, could not take the place of proof, unless there was evidence on record connecting the Accused with the offence under Sections 376(2)(f)<\/a> and 377<\/a> IPC<\/a>, his conviction under those sections would not be sustainable.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Court referred to Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh v. State of Gujarat<\/span>, (2004) 4 SCC 158<\/a>, wherein it was observed that the concept of fair trial entails familiar triangulation of interests of the accused, the victim and the society and it was the community that acted through the State and the prosecuting agencies. If a Criminal Court was to be an effective instrument in dispensing justice, the Presiding Judge must cease to be a spectator and a mere recording machine by a participant in the trial evincing intelligent, active interest and elicit all relevant materials necessary for reaching the correct conclusion, to find out the truth and administer justice with fairness and impartiality both to the parties and to the community it served.<\/p>\n

The Court observed that unless the Accused was granted a fair opportunity to defend himself, the conviction would stand vitiated. The Court noted that neither the child was examined as a witness nor PSI, who recorded the victim’s statement, was called. The prosecution’s failure to examine them, without any explanation, amounted to denial of opportunity to prove innocence and fair trial to the Accused. The Court referred to J. Jayalalitha v. State of Karnataka<\/span>, (2014) 2 SCC 401<\/a>, where it was held that a free and fair trial was a sine qua non of Article 21<\/a> of the Constitution<\/a>, and the right to a fair trial was not only a basic fundamental right but also a human right. Therefore, any hindrance to a fair trial could be violative of Article 14<\/a> of the Constitution<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Court, while allowing the appeal, set aside the conviction of the Appellant under Sections 376(2)(f)<\/a> and 377<\/a> IPC<\/a> by giving him the benefit of doubt. The Court interfered with the conviction and sentences imposed under those provisions but affirmed the conviction and sentence under Section 363<\/a> IPC<\/a>. Since the Appellant had spent over 10 years in jail, which was the maximum sentence under Section 363<\/a> IPC<\/a>, the Court directed he be set at liberty unless needed in another case.<\/p>\n

[X v. State of Maharashtra, 2025 SCC OnLine Bom 2922<\/a>, decided on 14-08-2025<\/span>]<\/p>\n

*Judgment authored by: Justice Suman Shyam<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n

For the Appellant:<\/span> Sandeep Karnik, Legal-aid appointed Advocate<\/p>\n

For the Respondents:<\/span> Deepa Punjabi, Legal-aid appointed Advocate, G. P. Mulekar, APP<\/p>\n

Buy Penal Code, 1860   HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"penal<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973  HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Code<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy Constitution of India  HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Constitution<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Unless the Accused is granted a fair opportunity to defend his interest in a fair trial, an order of conviction would stand vitiated merely on such count.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67011,"featured_media":357246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[78032,2569,78825,87610,64906,68044,72935,87611,38070,32174,35079,87612],"class_list":["post-357239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-highcourts","tag-article-21-constitution","tag-Bombay_High_Court","tag-fair-opportunity","tag-fair-trail","tag-insufficient-evidence","tag-justice-shyam-c-chandak","tag-justice-suman-shyam","tag-opportunity-to-prove-innocence","tag-right-to-fair-trial","tag-section-106-evidence-act","tag-section-3762f-ipc","tag-sexual-assault-conviction"],"yoast_head":"\nBombay 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Explained","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"September 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Allahabad High Court: Suresh Kumar Gupta, J., while addressing the present jail appeal held that, \"...in cases involving sexual assault\/rape, it is generally difficult to find any corroborative witnesses, except the victim herself and therefore, the evidence of the victim is sufficient for conviction unless there exist compelling reasons for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":367074,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/11\/18\/bom-hc-upholds-conviction-in-sexual-assault-of-5-year-old-girl\/","url_meta":{"origin":357239,"position":2},"title":"Bombay HC upholds conviction in sexual assault on 5-year-old girl based on circumstantial evidence","author":"Editor","date":"November 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cWhen a person\u2019s identification is at issue, the information that is most beneficial in determining his identity is considered a relevant fact. On their own, certain pieces of evidence may seem devoid of significance, but when considered in conjunction with other facts, they may become relevant.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Conviction in Sexual Assault of 5-Year-Old","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Conviction-in-Sexual-Assault-of-5-Year-Old-1.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Conviction-in-Sexual-Assault-of-5-Year-Old-1.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Conviction-in-Sexual-Assault-of-5-Year-Old-1.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Conviction-in-Sexual-Assault-of-5-Year-Old-1.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":239223,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/11\/16\/bom-hc-70-year-old-man-convicted-under-s-10-pocso-act-in-light-of-touching-breast-of-a-minor-child-aged-8-years-old-amounting-to-aggravated-sexual-assault\/","url_meta":{"origin":357239,"position":3},"title":"Bom HC | 70-year old man convicted under S. 10 POCSO Act for touching breast of a minor child aged 8 years old amounting to ‘aggravated sexual assault’","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"November 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Bombay High Court: Vinay Joshi, J., altered the conviction for rape and penetrative sexual assault to an act of aggravated form of sexual assault punishable under Section 10 of the POCSO Act in light of touching the breast of the child. Appellant aged 67 years was convicted under Sections 376\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":279340,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/12\/09\/pocso-sexual-assault-minor-victim-sentence-reduced-twin-object-sentencing-policy-deterence-correction-mitigating-circumstances-bombay-high-court-legal-research-updates-criminal-trial-law-news\/","url_meta":{"origin":357239,"position":4},"title":"\u2018Sentencing policy’s twin objective is deterrence and correction\u2019; Bombay High Court reduces POCSO convict’s sentence in a 7-year-old’s sexual assault case","author":"Editor","date":"December 9, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Court observed that the convict was a young boy of 20 years, who has no father, and was shouldering the responsibility of his widowed sister and her son, hence, imprisonment for a term of 14 years would be adequate, to teach him a lesson.","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Bombay-High-Court-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":239968,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/12\/01\/bom-hc-protector-turns-predator-11-year-old-child-subjected-to-digital-penetration-and-sexual-assault-hc-upholds-lower-courts-decision\/","url_meta":{"origin":357239,"position":5},"title":"Bom HC | Protector Turns Predator: 11-year old child subjected to digital penetration and sexual assault; HC upholds lower Court’s decision","author":"Bhumika Indulia","date":"December 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Bombay High Court:\u00a0The Division Bench of Sadhana S. Jadhav and N.J. Jamadar, JJ., pens down the decision in the instant matter with the thought that \"protector turns predator\". The order of the Special Judge, Greater Bombay has been challenged, hereunder the appellant has been convicted for the offences punishable under\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67011"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357239"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357239\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}