State Of M.P vs Bablu Natt

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the respondent under Sections 366 and 376 IPC for abducting and committing rape on a minor prosecutrix, emphasizing that consent is irrelevant when the victim is below 16 years of age. The Court affirmed the lower court's finding that the respondent took the prosecutrix from her lawful guardian without consent, intending to engage in illicit sexual intercourse. The sentence of 7 years of rigorous imprisonment for each offence was deemed appropriate given the circumstances, despite the respondent's plea for leniency due to being a first-time offender.