‘Filed false rape case against dad to avoid marriage’

THANE: The 16-year-old girl, who framed her father in a false sexual harassment case, had done it as he had planned to get her married off (in 2014) to a person whom she disliked. This was revealed after the acquittal of the father by the court.

Towards the end of deposition the girl admitted that she had earlier deposed falsely.

The special judge Mrudula Bhatia, taking a serious view of the false evidence in the court ordered legal proceedings against her under provisions of perjury. The judge clearly pointed out that the girl was admittedly a major at the time of deposition and therefore could be prosecuted for offence of perjury.

The teenager was raised since birth by grandparents in their native town of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh. In 2013, she came to live with her parents in Navi Mumbai. Later, in August 2013, the girl who was then aged 16, approached the police and in her complaint accused her biological father of raping and molesting her on number of occasions.

It later transpired that the father, who was lodged in jail since last two-and-half-years, had also opposed her friendship with boys and hence wanted her to get married her and he had even found a groom in Nalasopara.

It was on Thursday, that special judge Mrudula Bhatia acquitted the 40-year-old father from the serious charges of sexual harassment.

All the elements that should support the stand of the girl in the case went against her including the medical reports of the girl or her father’s which yielded no results, said Sangita Phad, the district government pleader and the prosecutor.

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Phad, who was defending the girl in the court, moved application against her under IPC section 193 (punishment for false evidence) and submitted that she has deposed falsely and perjury proceedings should be initiated against her.

The judge pointed out, “her testimony did not inspire any confidence as her demeanour, mannerism and body language totally belied her deposition.”

The special judge ordered legal proceedings against her under provisions of perjury as she was a major at the time of deposition. Bhatia said it will give out a strong message that the POCSO Act should not be misused.