Court Directs Action Against Young Girl For Submitting False Evidence In Rape Case In Odisha’s Kandhamal

Phulbani: A young girl, who had filed a case for allegedly being raped, has faced prosecution from the court after backtracking from her allegation in Kandhamal district.

As per the case, the victim had filed an FIR at Phulbani Sadar police station in May 2020 alleging that while she was visiting her relative’s house four youths raped her. Acting on the FIR filed four days after the incident, police arrested all four accused and produced them before the court.

During investigation, the statement of the 21-year-old victim was recorded by police as well as a judicial magistrate. She named the four persons who had committed the crime in the statement and police filed the charge sheet.

But, during trial in the Ad Hoc Special Judge of POCSO Court, the girl did not support the case and denied giving the statements before the police and judicial magistrate. With the victim denying the incident, Judge Bhaskar Chandra Sahu acquitted the accused of the charges of gang rape and directed to stay payment of compensation.

In its order on Wednesday, the court stated that though the victim corroborated the FIR before judicial magistrate and statements of witnesses were recorded supporting the prosecution, she did not support her statements during trial.

“Prima facie it is found that the victim suppressed the truth of her own allegation though she is legally bound to state truth. She deposed falsehood intentionally. She needs to be prosecuted under Section 193 of IPC. Be it dealt separately as per rule,” TNIE quoted the court as stating.

It ordered to stay payment of compensation to the victim till disposal of proceedings under Section 193 of IPC initiated against her for giving false evidence.