Full Judgment
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment Reserved on: 28.01.2026 Judgment pronounced on: 02.02.2026
+ CRL.A. 55/2023 and CRL.M.A. 1231/2026 & CRL.M.(BAIL) 82/2023 ASHOK KUMAR@AK .....Appellant Through: Mr. Chetan Bhardwaj, Ms. Priyal Bhardwaj and Mr. Priyanshu Vishwakarma, Advocates.
versus
STATE .....Respondent Through: Mr. Digam Singh Dagar, APP for the State. Ms. Astha and Ms. Megha singh, Advocates (DHCLSC) for prosecutrix.
CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA JUDGMENT
CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA, J.
1. This appeal under Section 374(2) the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (the Cr.P.C.) has been filed by the sole accused in
SC No. 561 of 2017 on the file of the Special Court under the
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, (the
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 1 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 Po CSO Act) Rohini Courts, Delhi, assailing the judgment dated
23.08.2022 as per which he has been convicted and sentenced for
the offences punishable under Section 6 of the Po CSO Act and
Section 376 (2) (f) and (i) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (the
IPC). 2. The prosecution case is that on 26.06.2017 at N-9A-33,
Lal Bagh, Azadpur, New Delhi, the appellant/accused outraged the
modesty and committed penetrative sexual assault on PW1, his
minor stepdaughter.
2. On the basis of Ext. PW1/A FIS of PW1, given on
12.07.2017, Crime No. 273/2017, Adarsh Nagar Police Station,
that is, Ext. P-1, FIS was registered by PW6, Woman Sub-
Inspector (WSI). PW6 conducted investigation into the crime and
on completion of the same filed the charge-sheet/final report
alleging commission of the offences punishable under Section 376
IPC and Section 6 of the Po CSO Act.
3. When the accused was produced before the trial court, all
the copies of the prosecution records were furnished to him as
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 2 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 contemplated under 207 Cr.PC. After hearing both sides, the trial
court as per order dated 08.11.2017, framed a charge under Section
354, Section 376 (2) (f) and (i) IPC and Sections 6, 10 of the
Po CSO Act, which was read over and explained to the accused, to
which he pleaded not guilty.
4. On behalf of the prosecution, PWs.1 to 7 were examined
and Exts. PW1/A-C, PW4/A-C, PW5/A, PW6/B-C, P-1, P-2 and
P-5 were marked in support of the case.
5. After the close of the prosecution evidence, the accused
was questioned under Section 313 Cr.PC regarding the
incriminating circumstances appearing against him in the evidence
of the prosecution. The accused denied all those circumstances and
maintained his innocence. He submitted that he had been falsely
implicated in this case at the behest of PW2, his mother in-law.
6. After questioning the accused under Section. 313 Cr PC,
compliance of Section 232 Cr PC was mandatory. In the case on
hand, no hearing as contemplated under Section 232 Cr PC is seen
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 3 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 done by the trial court. However, non-compliance of the said
provision does not, ipso facto vitiate the proceedings, unless
omission to comply with the same is shown to have resulted in
serious and substantial prejudice to the accused (See Moidu K. vs.
State of Kerala, 2009 (3) KHC 89 : 2009 SCC OnLine Ker
2888). Here, the accused has no case that non-compliance of
Section 232 Cr.P.C has caused any prejudice to him. No oral or
documentary evidence was adduced by the accused.
7. Upon consideration of the oral and documentary evidence
on record and after hearing both sides, the trial court, vide the
impugned judgment dated 23.08.2022 held the accused guilty of
the offences punishable under Section 376 (2)(f) and (i) IPC and
Section 6 of the Po CSO Act and hence sentenced him to undergo
rigorous imprisonment for a period of 20 years and to a fine of
₹8,000/-, and in default of payment of fine, to undergo simple
imprisonment for 30 days. Aggrieved, the appellant/accused has
preferred this present appeal.
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 4 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 8. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant
submitted that the latter has been falsely implicated by PW1 at the
behest of PW2, the maternal grandmother of PW1. It was
submitted that there are several contradictions and improvements
in the testimony of PW1 and PW2. The exact date of the incident
is also not clear. PW2 had sought the assistance of the accused to
get her daughter, that is, the wife of the accused and the mother of
PW1 released on bail. But the accused was unable to do so. Hence,
the false implication. It was also submitted that neither the dress of
the victim nor that of the accused had been seized or sent for
chemical examination. The bed sheet was also not seized or
subjected to any examination. No traces of semen was found either
in the private parts of the victim nor in the wearing apparel or bed
sheet. Hence, the case of penetration/sexual assault cannot be
believed, argued the learned counsel.
9. Per contra, it was submitted by the learned Additional
Public Prosecutor that the testimony of PW1 corroborated by the
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 5 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 testimony of PW2 clearly proves the prosecution case. The
witnesses have given consistent statements all throughout the
proceedings. Their testimony has not been discredited in any way
and hence, there is no reason(s) to disbelieve them.
10. Heard both sides and perused the records.
11. I shall first briefly refer to the evidence on record relied
on by the prosecution in support of the case. The incident in this
case is alleged to have taken place on 26.06.2017 at N-9A-33, Lal
Bagh, Azadpur, New Delhi, the residence of the accused, the step-
father of PW1. Exhibit PW1/A FIS of PW1, the victim, was
recorded on 12.07.2017. In the FIS, PW1 has stated thus:- “I live
in the abovementioned address with my family. We are three
sisters and one brother. I study in the 6th standard. My mother is in
jail in Narayanpur, Bihar since June. Ashok, is my step-father.
From the day my mother has been in jail, my father touches me
inappropriately and caresses my body. Before the festival of Eid,
on 26.06.2017, my father removed his pants and my pyjamiand
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 6 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 committed sexual assault/galatkaamwith me at my house which
caused pain and difficulty while urinating for the next 2-3 days.
The day before yesterday, I told my maternal grandmother (Nani)
………."
12. PW1/C, the 164 statement of PW1, is seen recorded on
13.07.2017. In the said statement PW1 states thus:- “Since the time
mummy was locked in jail, my father used to move his hands over
my body in a dirty way. Just 3-4 days before Eid, at night, papa
took off my pants, took off his own pants, and did a dirty act on
me. When I screamed and cried, he pressed his hand over my
mouth and said that if I screamed or told anyone, he would kill my
siblings.”
13. PW1, when examined before the court, stood by her case
in the FIS and in her 164 statement. She deposed that in the
previous year before the festival of Eid while everyone was asleep,
her father talked to her inappropriately and threatened to kill her
brother if she informed anyone of the incident. Her father removed
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 7 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 her clothes and his pant and inserted his private part into her
private part/vagina which caused her pain. She further deposed that
after some days her maternal grandmother visited her upon which
she narrated the said incident to her.
14. PW2, the maternal grandmother of PW1 deposed that,
when she went to meet her grandchildren at Lal Bagh, she found
PW1 quiet and dull. When she enquired the matter, PW1 started
crying. PW1 disclosed the abuse to her, pursuant to which the
police was informed.
15. PW7, CMO, BJRM Hospital deposed that, she had been
deputed to appear and depose on behalf of Dr. Mansi Vadhera who
had left the services of the hospital and that her whereabouts were
not known. She identified the handwriting and signature of the
aforesaid doctor who had examined PW1 and issued the certificate.
The certificate has been marked as Ext. PW5/A. In the certificate,
it is stated that the internal medical examination had been
conducted. On examination, the hymen was found not intact and
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 8 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 little finger could be inserted in part, through the introitus.
16. It is true that there is some discrepancy regarding the date
on which the incident occurred. However, it needs to be borne in
mind that PW1 was a young girl of 11 years and therefore, minor
discrepancies are bound to rise. PW2, her grandmother is also not
an educated person. Therefore, if at all any mistake has been
committed in referring to the date of the incident, that alone cannot
be a ground to disbelieve her version.
17. PW1 has no case of ejaculation by the accused and hence
absence of semen on her private parts is of no consequence. In
such circumstances, non-seizure of the bed sheet or the wearing
apparel of either PW1 or the accused has no consequence. The
learned counsel for the appellant/accused quite persuasively and
strenuously argued that the present case is a false one and that the
accused has been falsely implicated because he refused to help
PW2 to bail out her daughter who was in judicial custody. There
are no materials to probabilize the defence version. Admittedly,
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 9 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 the accused is the stepfather of PW1. At the relevant time, PW1
was staying with the accused. Therefore, he did have access to
PW1. The testimony of PW1 has not been discredited in any way.
The testimony of PW1 and PW2 is corroborated by the medical
evidence. It was submitted by the learned counsel for the
appellant/accused that there is no tear in the hymen and that it only
says that it admits little finger. It is true that the word torn has not
been used in exhibit PW5/A MLC. However the relevant findings
of the doctor reads thus:- “Labia majora appears healthy. Post
fourchette & labia minora appear red. Hymen not intact little
finger can be inserted half through the inhoitus.”
18. PW1 at the time of the incident was only 11 years old.
There is no explanation for the aforesaid status of her hymen. It
was submitted that it could have been due to various other reasons
also. However, the same has not been brought out either through
the testimony of the doctor or through PW1. Not even a suggestion
has been put to PW1 that she had indulged in any strenuous
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 10 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 physical activities indicating the possibility of a tear in hymen due
to the said reason. A whole reading of the materials on record does
not raise any doubts regarding the prosecution case.
19. Finally, the learned counsel for the appellant/accused
submitted that in case this Court is not inclined to interfere with
the impugned judgment, leniency may be shown and the
substantive sentence that has been imposed on the accused be
reduced. On going through the impugned judgment, I find that the
trial court did consider this argument also and has given plausible
reasons for awarding the sentence. The trial court did take into
account the circumstances from which the appellant/accused came
from and also his medical condition. The trial court imposed a
period of 20 years taking into account the fact that the
appellant/accused is the stepfather of the minor girl. The reasoning
given by the trial court are certainly sound and I fully agree with
the same. However, at the relevant time the offence under Section
5 of the Po CSO Act was punishable with rigorous imprisonment
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 11 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00 for a term not less than 10 years, which could extend to
imprisonment for life. Therefore, the minimum sentence to be
imposed was 10 years. Hence in the said circumstances, I find that
the substantive sentence of rigorous imprisonment for a period of
15 years would serve the ends of justice.
20. In the result, the appeal is partly allowed. The conviction
of the accused for the offence under Section 5 of the Po CSO Act is
confirmed. However, the sentence of rigorous imprisonment for 20
years is modified to a period of 15 years.
21. Applications, if any, pending, shall stand closed.
CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA (JUDGE)
FEBRUARY 02, 2026/mj
Signature Not Verified CRL.A. 55/2023 Page 12 of 12 Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:03.02.2026 10:47:00