In a striking judgment, the Madhya Pradesh High Court overturned the conviction of a man accused of attempted rape, citing an “unnatural” delay of six to nine days in filing the first information report (FIR). Justice Prem Narayan Singh, presiding over the case, emphasized that while a short delay of one or two days might be understandable, a prolonged lag of nearly a week undermines the credibility of the allegations.
The case revolved around a man named Golu, previously sentenced to 15 years in prison for allegedly attempting to rape a woman. The appeal brought before the High Court centered on multiple inconsistencies, with the timing of the FIR being a pivotal issue.
The Court highlighted that the victim’s scratch injuries, presented as evidence, were rendered insignificant due to the delayed FIR. Additionally, contradictions in the victim’s testimony, along with a pre-existing land dispute between the parties, further fueled skepticism. The lack of forensic and DNA reports, the delayed medico-legal case report, and the absence of independent witnesses only deepened the Court’s reservations.
In light of these deficiencies, the High Court concluded that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Golu’s conviction was set aside, and he was acquitted of all charges.
The case illustrates how procedural delays and inconsistencies can cast doubt on the integrity of a prosecution, leading to acquittal even in serious allegations like attempted rape.