Sex worker can't allege rape if denied money: SC

October 12, 2016

New Delhi, Oct 12: Acquitting three persons of rape charges, the Supreme Court has ruled that a sex worker cannot lodge a sexual assault complaint against her customers if they refuse to pay.

scA bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitava Roy said that though the evidence given by a woman alleging rape must get importance from the trial court, but it could not be taken as "gospel truth".

"The evidence of prosecutrix must be examined as that of an injured witness whose presence at the spot is probable but it can never be presumed that her statement should always, without exception, be taken as gospel truth," the bench said.

The ruling came in a 20-year-old case from Bengaluru. A woman, working as a maid, had alleged that three persons abducted her in an auto, took her to a garage and repeatedly raped her.

The three accused had challenged a Karnataka high court order directing their prosecution. The SC bench examined the witness all over again and said, "Her conduct during the alleged ordeal is also unlike a victim of rape and betrays somewhat submissive and consensual disposition."

In her statement to the trial court, the woman had said that after the three accused dumped her, she went back to locate the garage where she was raped before lodging the complaint so as to enable her to give proper evidence about the crime.

The woman's roommate, however, spilled the beans while deposing as a witness. She said the woman used to take financial help from the accused persons and, after completing her household work, used to indulge in prostitution at night. The roommate further told the court that the woman had approached the accused persons for Rs 1,000 which they declined to give.

When asked why she had lodged the complaint against the accused persons, the woman had said that it would have compelled them to pay the money she wanted.

The bench said, "This witness's version is plausible, and thus, fits in with the defence plea to demolish the prosecution case." Writing the judgment for the bench, Justice Roy said, "Her vengeful attitude in the facts and circumstances, as disclosed by her, if true, demonstrably evinces a conduct manifested by a feeling of frustration stoked by an intense feeling of deprivation of something expected, desired or promised."

Acquitting the three accused, Justices Ghose and Roy drew the conclusion, "We are of the unhesitant opinion that the prosecution has failed to prove the charge against the appellants to the hilt as obligated in law and thus, they are entitled to benefit of doubt."

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Agencies
March 22,2020

Thane, Mar 22: Eight men were arrested at Kalyan in the district on Sunday as they were found playing cricket during the 'Janata curfew' being observed to check the spread of coronavirus, police said.

They were playing cricket at Kala Talao Maidan in the afternoon, police said.

Police also detained a boy in this connection, an official said.

"Action was taken against them for defying the prohibitory orders issued by the Thane Police Commissionerate.

They also went against the 'Janata curfew' being observed to curb the spread of coronavirus," the police official said.

The Mahatma Phule Chowk Police Station registered an offence against the accused under IPC sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 290 (public nuisance).

They were also booked under the Maharashtra Police Act as well as the National Disaster Act 2005, the official said.

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News Network
February 5,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 5: City Crime Branch (CCB) of Bengaluru City have arrested two drug peddlers from Kerala and have seized banned products from their possession.

According to officials the arrested persons have been identified as Shinto Thomas (35) of Wayanad and Tajudden Talat (29) of Thiruvananthapuram.

"We have seized 4 kg 350 grams of Hashish oil, 21.5 kgs of Ganja, Rs. 9300 cash, two mobile phones, two ganja crushing tools, and 625 empty boxes and other articles from them", police said in a statement.

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News Network
April 3,2020

Pilibhit, Apr 3: Two men were mauled to death by a tiger in the vicinity of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve here, an official said on Friday.

The incident happened in Richhaula Chowki of Gajraula area in the district on Thursday night when Ninder Singh (50) and his servant Dorilal (28) were sleeping on their agricultural field, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Naveen Khandelwal told reporters.

The tiger also dragged them for over 500 metres, he said.

The forest department came to know about the incident when they were informed about it by Ninder's brother after which teams of police, district administration and forest department reached there.

The tiger was tranquillised on Friday by the forest department team and will be sent to Lucknow Zoo.

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