Man convicted of raping a minor; court declares consent irrelevant

A local court has convicted a man of raping a 14-year-old girl in January 2015, stressing that physical intercourse with a minor is tantamount to rape and that her consent is therefore irrelevant.

Additional Sessions Judge Amit Sahrawat presided over the case in which the man was charged under the penal provisions for rape and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The court’s verdict was based on consistent and credible testimony from the girl, who became pregnant as a result of the relationship and later gave birth to a child. The defense’s argument that the girl was of legal age at the time was rejected because evidence showed that she was about 14 years old.

The defense admitted physical relations, which are legally considered rape when dealing with underage girls. DNA analysis confirmed that the defendant is the biological father of the baby.

The forensic report supported the prosecution’s argument and proved beyond a doubt that the defendant had committed the crimes. The court ultimately found the defendant guilty of rape and aggravated sexual assault. The reasons for the verdict follow.

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