PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Nainital
The Uttarakhand High Court has suspended the 20-year sentence awarded to a man by a POCSO court and granted him bail, stating that he has the right to seek the relief. Rishikesh resident Rajesh Mandal had eloped with a minor in 2019.
He was caught by the police a few days later. In her statement under Section 164 to the police, the girl said that she was in a relationship for the past four years with Mandal and that her family was also aware of this. According to the girl, she had left her home of her own will. The duo had gone to Rudrapur where they were staying at a hotel.
The girl further stated that Mandal had not forced her into a relationship which was entered into with her agreement. The report of the medical examination conducted stated that no opinion can be given on the alleged rape. The trial court however, sentenced Mandal to 20 years despite a lack of evidence.
He then filed an appeal in the High Court challenging the decision of the lower court. The division bench of chief justice G Narendar and justice Ashish Naithani heard the matter and stated that Mandal has the right to seek relief from the sentence. The court suspended the sentence passed by the lower court in May 2024 and granted bail to Mandal.
