Man gets 7-year imprisonment for raping Delhi Police employee

A 26-year-old man, who repeatedly raped a woman employee of the Delhi Police on a false promise of marrying her, has been sent to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment by a court, which relied on the victim’s testimony despite her turning hostile in cross-examination.

“Though the prosecutrix during her cross-examination resiled and took a U-turn from what she had deposed in examination in chief, her such reversal does not falsify or negate her categorical deposition made during examination in chief, which was found to be natural, clear, convincing, reliable and trustworthy,” Additional Sessions Judge MC Gupta said.

The court, while holding Karan Bhasin guilty of rape, said: “It is well settled that the evidence of a hostile witness, to the extent, it supports the case of the prosecution, can be relied upon, if it is corroborated by other reliable evidence.” 

While awarding rigorous jail term to the convict, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on him. “It is well settled that rape is crime and not a medical condition. Rape is a legal term and not a diagnosis to be made by the medical officer treating the victim,” it observed. The court said Bhasin “failed to elicit” any material or relevant discrepancies or inconsistencies despite victim’s searching cross examination except getting her to resile or take a U turn on one date of hearing.