SURENDRA RAM vs THE STATE (GOVT OF N.C.T DELHI)

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Reserved on : 27.11.2025 Pronounced on : 22.12.2025 Uploaded on : 22.12.2025 + CRL.A. 551/2016 SURENDRA RAM .....Appellant Through: Mr. Shashank Garg, Senior Advocate (Amicus Curiae Pro Bono) with Ms. Aradhya Chaturvedi, Advocates versus THE STATE (GOVT OF N.C.T DELHI) .....Respondent Through: Ms. Shubhi Gupta, APP for State with PSI Dheeraj Gupta and SI Prashant Malik, P.S. Laxmi Nagar. Ms. Neelampreet Kaur, Advocate (Amicus Curiae Pro Bono) for victim. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ KUMAR OHRI JUDGMENT 1. The present appeal has been instituted under Section 374 Cr.P.C. seeking setting aside of the judgment of conviction dated 18.02.2016 and the order on sentence dated 26.02.2016 passed by the Sessions Court in SC No. 64/2014, whereby the appellant was held guilty and convicted under Section 376 IPC as well as Section 4 POCSO and sentenced to undergo RI for 7 years along with payment of fine of Rs.5,000/-, in default whereof he would further undergo SI for 3 months, for the offence punishable under Section 4 POCSO. Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:NIJAMUDDEEN ANSARI CRL.A. 551/2016 Page 1 of 9 Signing Date:22.12.2025 19:33:51 2. The investigation in the present case commenced in the context of a complaint lodged on 23.12.2013, whereby it was alleged that two days ago, i.e., on 21.12.2013, at about 3:00 PM, the victim, aged about 14 years, was alone at her house. The accused called her to fetch water and when she went inside his jhuggi, he forcibly made her lie on a cot and committed rape upon her. He also threatened her not to disclose the incident to anyone else. She narrated the incident to her mother on 23.12.2013, whereafter the subject FIR came to be lodged under Sections 376/506 IPC read with Section 4 POCSO