STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH vs POLAMALA RAJU @ RAJARAO

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the respondent under Section 376 IPC for the rape of a five-year-old girl, confirming that the prosecution established its case beyond a reasonable doubt through reliable evidence. The Court found that both the trial court and the High Court were justified in their conclusions regarding the conviction. However, the Court questioned the High Court's reduction of the sentence from ten years to five years R.I., emphasizing that the minimum punishment under Section 376(2)(f) IPC for such an offence should not be less than ten years.