Court acquits rape accused in UP, puts woman’s father in dock

LUCKNOW: A special court in Ambedkar Nagar has acquitted a man accused of abducting and raping a woman, citing lack of evidence against him..Ramakant Verma alias Monu Verma was accused of abducting a young woman in Ambedkar Nagar and taking her to Mumbai where he raped her.Special Judge (SC/ST Act) Chintaram noted that the alleged survivor and her parents had retracted their earlier statements and did not support the allegations made in the complaint.The court also ordered the registration of separate proceedings against the complainant, Radheyshyam, for giving false evidence. It directed that the money provided by govt in connection with the case be deposited with the social welfare department within one month. The matter against the complainant has been scheduled for hearing on Nov 22.According to the prosecution, Radheyshyam had submitted a complaint at the Jahangirganj police station on July 17, 2019, stating that his daughter, 20, had left home to relieve herself on May 18, 2019, but did not return.After searching for her, the family lodged a missing-person report.He claimed that his daughter returned home crying on the evening of July 8 and told the family that Ramakant along with two unidentified men, had forcibly taken her to Mumbai. She was allegedly assaulted and abused there. The complaint further alleged that the accused threatened to kill her if she reported the matter when she was dropped near the Jahangirganj intersection.Police had registered an FIR under relevant provisions relating to kidnapping, assault, verbal abuse, criminal intimidation and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. After completing the investigation, police filed a chargesheet against the accused, including charges of rape and other offences. The court framed charges in Jan 2020.During the trial, the woman told the court that someone had grabbed her from behind while she was returning from a field late at night, but she could not identify the person.She further stated that the FIR had been lodged under pressure from villagers and that she had given statements to the police under pressure.Radheyshyam told the court that his daughter had gone to her maternal grandparents’ home after becoming upset over being scolded. Her mother corroborated his statement.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in LucknowStay updated with the latest Lucknow news. Download the TOI App.