PANJIM: The High Court acquitted a stepfather from Chimbel, Tiswadi, who was earlier found guilty of rape and sexual assault on his stepdaughter in 2018.
The man was earlier sentenced by the Additional Sessions Court to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years, to pay a fine of Rs 20,000 for the offence punishable under Section 376 of the IPC, and to also undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year for the offence punishable under Section 506(ii) of the IPC.
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Aggrieved by the conviction and sentence, he filed an appeal against this order before the Goa Bench of the Bombay HC.
“The impugned order is hereby quashed and set aside. The appellant stands acquitted by giving the benefit of the doubt,” said the HC bench.
“In sum and substance, the material which is brought on record during the trial is not at all sufficient evidence to hold the accused guilty, as it consists of improvements, contradictions, and omissions, as well as the fact that the allegations are highly improbable,” the bench added.
The court further ordered the appellant’s immediate release, stating that he should be set at liberty unless required for any other offence.
The FIR from April 2019 at the Old Goa Police Station had accused the stepfather of sexually exploiting the victim while other family members were asleep and also threatening her with dire consequences.
