Mumbai: The Bombay high court has rejected the appeal filed by a rapist, Imran Khan, who had raped a nine-year-old girl. The court, in its order, noted that a trend of turning hostile in children rape cases has increased and it has been observed that the accused are either a close acquaintance or a relative of the victims.
Justice Sadhana Jadhav presiding over single bench was hearing an appeal filed by Khan who was given 11-year sentence for raping a nine-year-old girl. His contention was that despite the victim having turned hostile, The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court rewarded him with imprisonment.
“There is a rising trend of the minor rape victims turning hostile. It is apparent that before the trial, elder members of the family are won over by the accused and hence, minors would turn hostile,” Justice Jadhav said. “Most of the times, it is the close relative or acquaintance who would sexually abuse,” Justice Jadhav further added.
In the instant case, it appears that the accused Khan, maternal uncle of the victim raped her several times. The child narrated her ordeal to her mother but she ignored. The child then went to her grandparent’s house and narrated the incident thereafter crime was registered at the Govandi police station.
