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Udaya Kumar vs The State Through
2025 Latest Caselaw 3436 Mad

Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 3436 Mad
Judgement Date : 3 March, 2025

Madras High Court

Udaya Kumar vs The State Through on 3 March, 2025

Author: Sathi Kumar Sukumara Kurup
Bench: Sathi Kumar Sukumara Kurup
                                                                                       Crl.A. No.813 of 2018



                                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
                                                 DATED :           03.03.2025
                                                         CORAM :
                         THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SATHI KUMAR SUKUMARA KURUP
                                           Criminal Appeal No. 813 of 2018
                                                         ---

                  Udaya Kumar                                                          .. Appellant

                                                            Versus

                  The State through
                  Deputy Superintendent of Police,
                  All Women Police Station,
                  Dharapuram,
                  Tiruppur District.
                  Crime No.4/2014                                                      .. Respondent

                         Criminal Appeal filed under Section 374 (2) of Cr.P.C., praying to set
                  aside the Judgment dated 03.12.2018 in Spl. S.C. No. 29 of 2014 on the file of
                  the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, Tiruppur.

                  For Appellant              :       Mr. J. Kingsly Solomon
                  For Respondent             :       Mrs. G.V. Kasthuri
                                                     Additional Public Prosecutor


                                                    JUDGMENT

This Criminal Appeal has been filed to set aside the Judgment dated

03.12.2018 passed by the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge,

Tiruppur in Spl.S.C.No.29 of 2014.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

2. The Prosecution came to be launched against the Appellant by the

complainant-PW1, who is also the victim in this case. It is the case of the

complainant that during the year 2011, a phone call was received in her

brother's mobile phone and when she attended it, the line was disconnected.

Therefore, PW1 sent a message as to who he is and why he called the mobile

number of her brother. The Appellant replied by stating that he is the friend of

the brother of PW1. Thereafter, both of them mutually exchanged messages

through the mobile phone number of P.W-1 bearing No. XXXXXXXXXX.

Later, the Appellant Accused said that he fell in love with her. In response, the

Appellant said to have informed that she belonged to a different caste.

However, the Appellant said that he will manage everything. Accordingly, on

30th November 2011, the Appellant called P.W-1 in her mobile number and

ascertained that there is none in the house and P.W-1 is alone. Therefore, at

about 10.30 am the Appellant came to the house of the Accused and under the

pretext of marrying her, had sexual intercourse with her. By adopting this

mode, the Appellant had sexual intercourse with the Prosecutrix for two years.

However, from the year 2013, the Appellant did not attend the phone calls

made by her and also refused to meet her. Ultimately, when the Appellant

attended the phone call, he has categorically said that since the Prosecutrix

belonged to a lower caste,( Uploaded https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis he could not marry her. When this was informed by on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

the Appellant to her parents, they went to meet the Appellant Accused, but he

was not in his house. On 01.07.2014, the Appellant Accused came to the

house of PW1 and categorically asserted that PW1 belongs to Sakkiliya

community and therefore, he could not marry her and also abused PW1 and

her family members. The quarrel between the Appellant, PW1 and her family

was witnessed by the neighbours. It is in this context, on 02.07.2014, PW1

has given a complaint against the Appellant based on which the case in Crime

No. 4 of 2014 was registered on 02.07.2014 for the offences under Sections

417, 506 (ii) of IPC read with 3 (1) (w) (i) and 3 (2) (va) of The SC/ST,

Prevention of Atrocities Act. Ex.P7 is the First Information Report.

3. On receipt of Ex.P-7, P.W-13, Inspector of Police took up the

investigation in this case and proceeded to the house of PW1 at about 8 am on

03.07.2014. She drew a rough sketch and observation mahazar, Ex.P-9 in the

presence of witnesses Raman and Ashok. She also enquired P.W-1, P.W-2,

P.W-3, P.W-4, Shalini-P.W-5, Palanisamy-P.W-6 and Murugan and recorded

their statement. Thereafter, she proceeded to Moolanur Bus Stand upon

intimation that the Appellant- Accused is waiting to board a bus and arrested

him. After arrest, the Appellant was sent to judicial custody for remand. P.W-

13 also taken steps to subject the Prosecutrix to medical examination besides https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

collected the community certificate of P.W-1 as well as the Accused from Pws

10 and 11. On 05.07.2014, both the Prosecutrix as well as the Appellant were

subjected to medical examination and she has also recorded the statement of

Doctor Ravi and Doctor Divya. P.W-13 also submitted an alteration report to

the Court under Ex.P10 as per which the offences for which the case was

registered under Ex.P-7 from Section 417, 506 (ii) of IPC and 3 (1) (w) (i), 3

(2) (va) of SC/ST POA Act was altered into one under Section 376, 417, 294

(b), 506 (ii) of IPC and Section 3 (1) (w) (i), 3 (2) (va) of SC/ST (PoA) Act.

After concluding her investigation, on 30.07.2014, P.W-13 filed the charge

sheet in this case against the Appellant in this case before the learned Judicial

Magistrate, Dharapuram. The learned Judicial Magistrate, Dharapuram had

taken cognizance of the offences under Sections 376, 417, 294(b), 506(ii) of

the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 3(1)(w)(i), 3(2)(va) of SC/ST (PoA)

Act, 1989, since the offences alleged against the Accused are exclusively

triable by Court of Sessions, the learned Judicial Magistrate, Dharapuram had

taken the charge sheet on file as P.R.C. No. 19 of 2014 and issued summons to

the Accused. On appearance of the Accused on summons, copies were

furnished to the Accused under Section 207 of Cr.P.C. and the case was

committed to the Court of Sessions. The Accused was bound over to the Court

of the learned Principal District https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Judge, Tiruppur.

( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

4. On appearance of the Accused before the learned Principal

District and Sessions Judge, Tiruppur and on receipt of records in P.R.C.No.19

of 2014, the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, Tiruppur

renumbered the case as Spl.S.C.No.29 of 2014. After hearing the arguments of

the learned Public Prosecutor, Tiruppur and the learned Counsel for the

Defence (Accused), the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge,

Tiruppur had framed charge against the Accused under Sections 376, 417,

294(b), 506(ii) of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 3(1)(w)(i), 3(2)(va)

of SC/ST (PoA) Act, 1989. Charges were explained in Thamizh to the

Accused. The Accused pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried. Therefore,

trial was ordered by the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge,

Tiruppur. In order to prove the charges framed against the Accused, the

Prosecution had examined 13 witnesses as P.W-1 to P.W-13 and marked 10

documents as Ex.P-1 to Ex.P-10.

5. The learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, Tiruppur upon

considering the oral and documentary evidence, acquitted the

Appellant/Accused for the offences under Sections 294 (b), 506 (ii), 376 of

Indian Penal Code and Section 3 (1) (w) (i), 3 (2) (va) of Tamil Nadu SC/ST

(POA) Amendment Act, 2015. However, he was found guilty of the offence https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

under Sections 417 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo simple

imprisonment of one year with fine of Rs.5,000/-, failing which to undergo

simple imprisonment for a period of three months.

6. As against the Judgment of acquittal of the Appellant/Accused,

neither the Prosecution nor the defacto complainant has preferred any appeal.

This appeal is at the instance of the Appellant questioning the correctness and

legality of the Judgment dated 03.12.2018 passed in C.C. No. 29 of 2014,

convicting him for the offence punishable under Section 417 of IPC.

7. The learned Counsel for the Appellant invited the attention of this

Court that the Appellant/Accused is alleged to have come to the residence of

the Prosecutrix and in front of the house, while waiting on the road, he abused

them claiming that “m';F te;j cjaFkhu; v';fisg; ghu;j;J rf;fpypa eha;fsh

vd;d ijupak; ,Ue;jhy; vd; tPlo; w;F te;J vd;idf; fy;ahzk; bra;J bfhs;sr; brhy;fpwPu;fs;/ ,dpnky; v';fhtJ vd;dplk; ,J fwpj;J ngrpdPu;fs; vd;why; c';fis bfhd;W g[ijj;JtpLntd; vd kpul;odhu;/ nkYk; vd;id ghu;jJ ; ngho fz;nlhnuhyp njtoah Kz;il vd;W bfl;lthu;j;ijahy; jplo; eP fPH; $hjpff; hup eP vy;yhk; vd;ndhL gLf;fkl;Lk;jhd; fy;ahzk; bra;Jbfhs;tbjy;yhk; cdf;F mUfij ,y;iy vd;W nftykhfg; ngrpdhu;/ vd;id jpUkzk; bra;J bfhs;s KoahJ vd https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

nfhgkhf ngrpdhu;/ ,jdhy; v';fSf;F gaKk; mtkhdKk; Vw;gl;lJ/ ,jid ghu;jJ ;

mUfpypUe;j Cu;ff; huu;fs; tunt m';fpUe;J brd;Wtpl;lhu;/" Therefore, the neighbours of the Prosecutrix/complainant insisted them to lodge a complaint

based on which, she lodged a complaint with the All Women Police Station,

Dharapuram.

8. The learned Counsel for the Appellant further submitted that from

the complaint, it can be presumed that she is a major, she knows the

consequences of having pre-marital sex and had taken the risk. She is not an

illiterate or ignorance and she was a graduate. As per her own complaint, on

the date of lodging the complaint, she has completed 21 years and she had

completed her degree. The learned Counsel for the Appellant also invited the

attention of this Court to the evidence of the Prosecutrix-P.W-1, the parents of

the Prosecutrix as P.W-2 and P.W-3, P.W-4/brother of the Prosecutrix, the

sister-in-law of the Prosecutrix-P.W-5. In their cross examination, they

admitted that the parents of PW1 themselves are Intercaste couples. Therefore,

the claim of the Prosecutrix that the Accused came to their residence and

abused them in harsh words, claiming that they belong to schedule caste and

he could not marry the Prosecutrix is not acceptable. The evidence of P.W-

5/sister-in-law of the Prosecutrix indicates that she belongs to backward class https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

and she is a postgraduate and the elder brother of the Prosecutrix passed 10th

standard and they are not residing with their parents. It is admitted that they

are residing 40 km away from the residence of the Prosecutrix and parents.

The claim of the Prosecutrix that the parents and elder brother, sister-in-law

went to the house of the Accused and the Accused was not at home is therefore

unbelievable. The allegation that the Appellant came to the residence of the

Prosecutrix and abused the entire family members in front of the house is not

proved by examining any witness. When the learned Sessions Judge had

acquitted the Accused from charges under Sections 376, 294 (b), 506 (ii) of

IPC and Section 3 (1) (w) (i), 3 (2) (va) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities)

amendment ordinance, 2014, automatically she should have acquitted the

Accused from the charge under Section 417 of IPC also. The reasoning of the

learned Sessions Judge convicting the Accused for offence under Section 417

of IPC is perverse and is to be set aside. P.W-1 is not subjected to cross-

examination. The learned Judge herself had put questions under Section 165 of

Indian Evidence Act to P.W-1 answered. She had stated clearly that from

30.11.2011 till May, 2013, they had sexual intercourse for 25 times. She had

also stated that she had studied up to B.Sc., and she had also completed B.Ed.,

Therefore it is clear that the Prosecutrix clearly consented for the sexual

intercourse with the Appellant https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis and she cannot now turn around and claim that ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

she was exploited by the Accused for sexual pleasures and discarded her on

the ground that she was a member of the schedule caste. Therefore, it is a case

of consensual sex and not a case of rape or sex under the pretext of marriage.

9. The learned counsel for the Appellant further submitted that the

Investigation Officer had not examined any of the members of the public

regarding the claim that the Accused abused them in filthy language from the

road, opposite to the residence of the victim. The complainant's case has been

demolished in the cross examination of her parents - P.W-2, P.W-3 and

P.W4/elder brother and P.W-5/sister-in-law. The learned Sessions Judge,

without considering those evidence, erroneously convicted the Appellant for

the offence under Section 417 of IPC. Therefore, the conviction of the

Accused under Section 417 of IPC is perverse and is to be set aside.

10. The learned Counsel for the Appellant invited the attention of this

court to Section 90 of the Indian Penal Code which does not define consent.

The complainant/victim claims that she had intercourse with the Accused for

25 times and there are no witnesses. It is the defence of the Accused that the

Accused is the friend of the elder brother and she had attempted to force him

to marry her using the relationship https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis of the Accused with the elder brother. The ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

Accused claims that he did not have any intercourse with Prosecutrix at all and

this is a foisted case only to pressurize and to threaten the Accused to marry

the Prosecutrix. There is no proof that the Accused had visited her house as

claimed by the complainant. The evidence of the P.W-13 clearly indicates that

that the mobile number of the complainant and the mobile number of the

Accused were not subjected to any examination with the connected mobile

service providers regarding the messaging or interactions. The learned Judge

failed to consider those aspects and merely based on the evidence of P.W-1 and

P.W-8/Doctor, the Accused was convicted for the offence under Section 417 of

IPC. Under those circumstances, based on the report of P.W-8 under Ex.P-3

and the report of P.W-9 under Ex.P-4, the Accused cannot be convicted for

offence under Section 417 of IPC. In this context, the learned Counsel for the

Appellant relied on the ruling reported in (2019) 9 SCC 608 in the case of

Pramod Suryabhan Pawar Vs. State of Maharashtra and another. In Deepak

Gulati Vs. State of Haryana reported in (2013) 7 SCC 675 : (2013) 3 SCC

(Cri) 660. The relevant portion is extracted hereunder:

“24. Hence, it is evident that there must be adequate evidence to show that at the relevant time i.e. At the initial stage itself, the Accused had no intention whatsoever, of keeping his promise to marry the victim. There may, of course, be circumstances, when a person having the best of intentions is unable to marry the victim owing to various unavoidable https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

circumstances. The “failure to keep a promise made with respect to a future uncertain date, due to reasons that are not very clear from the evidence available, does not always amount to misconception of fact. In order to come within the meaning of the term “misconception of fact”, the fact must have an immediate relevance.” Section 90 IPC cannot be called into aid in such a situation, to pardon the act of a girl in entirety, and fasten criminal liability on the other, *unless the court is assured of the fact that from the very beginning, the Accused had never really intended to marry her.”

25. ...........Firstly, it must be shown that the consent was given under a misconception of fact. Secondly, it must be proved that the person who obtained the consent knew, or had reason to believe that the consent was given in consequence of such misconception. We have serious doubts that the promise to marry induced the Prosecutrix to consent to having sexual intercourse with the Appellant. She knew, as we have observed earlier, that her marriage with the Appellant was difficult on account of caste considerations. The proposal was bound to meet with stiff opposition from members of both families. There was therefore a distinct possibility, of which she was clearly conscious, that the marriage may not take place at all despite the promise of the Appellant......”

11. Therefore, the learned Counsel for the Appellant seeks to set aside

the Judgment of Conviction recorded by the learned Sessions Judge as

perverse.

12. Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, by way of

reply, submitted that here was a case where the victim was exploited by the

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

Appellant. After having sexual intercourse, he had cheated her by citing her

caste. Therefore, the complaint was registered by the sub inspector of Police,

All Women Police Station under the provisions of Sections 417, 506 (ii) of

IPC and Section 3 (1) (w) (i), 3 (2) (va) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities)

amendment ordinance, 2014. After completion of investigation, the Deputy

Superintendent of Police filed alteration report by including the offence under

Section 376 of IPC. It is to be noted that the Prosecutrix was not at all cross

examined by the learner Counsel for the Accused and that shows that there was

no defence for the Accused to project in this case. The learned Judge, on her

own, had put up questions to the Prosecutrix and it is legally permissible. It is

true that PW1 is a graduate. It is also true that she is a B.Ed., degree holder but

under the pretext of promise to marry, the Accused had indulged in repeated

offences. The learned Sessions Judge had on proper appreciation of evidence,

aquitted the Accused from all the charges but had convicted under section 417

of IPC alone. As per the ruling reported in (2019) 9 SCC 608 in the case of

Pramod Suryabhan Pawar Vs. State of Maharashtra and another, cited by

the learned Counsel for the Appellant itself, the Hon’ble Judges of the

Supreme Court had discussed the distinction between obtaining consent and

misconception of fact. The same Judgment applies to the facts of this case to

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

record conviction against the Appellant. The fact that the Prosecutrix was not

cross examined itself was considered by the learned Judge. Further, the

evidence of the Prosecutrix inspires confidence of the court and which led to

the conviction of the Appellant. This court, sitting in appeal, cannot acquit the

Accused on the ground that there are loopholes in the prosecution case. The

learned trial Judge had observed the demeanour of the victim/Prosecutrix and

that the Accused who appeared before the trial Court while passing the

judgment of conviction. Therefore, the appreciation of evidence by the learned

Principal Sessions Judge, by which, she had recorded conviction against the

Accused for the offence under Section 417 of IPC cannot be said to be

perverse. Therefore, the Judgment of Conviction had to be maintained. The

Appeal lacks merits and is to be dismissed.

Point for consideration:

Whether the Judgment of Conviction recorded by the learned

Principal Sessions Judge, Tiruppur in Spl.S.C. No. 29 of 2014

dated 03.12.2018 is to be set aside as perverse?

13. Heard the learned Counsel for the Appellant and the learned

Additional Public Prosecutor. Perused the evidence of P.W-1 to P.W-13, https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

documents under Ex.P-1 to Ex.P-10 and the Judgment of the learned Principal

Sessions Judge, Tiruppur.

14. The learned Trial Judge had on appreciation of evidence has

rightly concluded that the offences of this nature there will not be any

witnesses and if the testimony of the Prosecutrix is found to be natural and

inspiring the confidence of the Court, a conviction can be recorded. The

contention of the counsel for the Appellant that there are no witness in this

case and merely on the basis of the evidence of the Doctors, the Accused

cannot be convicted. This contention of the counsel for the Appellant cannot

be countenanced. Here is a case the Prosecutrix due to her helplessness was

forced to approach the Police station seeking remedy by registering a case. In

fact, after having sexual intercourse for about two years, the Appellant

neglected PW1. It is her deposition that she repeatedly called the Appellant

but he did not respond. On examining the deposition of PW1, she has

admitted that she is a graduate and had sexual intercourse with the Appellant

for over 25 times under the belief that the Appellant would marry her.

However, by citing the caste or community to which PW1 belonged to she

refused to marry her. In fact, even at the first meeting, the Appellant must

have knowledge about the( Uploaded https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis caste on:

to10/03/2025 which 05:17:15 PW1 pm belonged ) to. The Appellant is

none other than the class mate of the brother of PW1. Therefore, the Appellant

cannot, at the outset, feign ignorance about the caste to which PW1 belonged

to. Therefore, it is clear that even though PW1 consented for the sexual

intercourse, such a consent was obtained by a false promise to marry or on

misconception of fact. Such a consent cannot be considered to be a consent at

all in the Criminal Law Jurisprudence.

15. PW8 is the Doctor, who subjected PW1 to medical examination.

Upon examination, PW8 submitted her report stating that the hymen of the

Prosecutrix is not intact and her vagina admits two fingers with ease. In the

cross-examination PW8 has said that when enquired, PW1 has informed her

that she had sexual intercourse with a known person. Therefore, the

deposition of PW1 that she got acquainted with the Appellant and had sexual

intercourse with him under the promise that he will marry her cannot be simply

brushed aside.

16. On perusal of the discussion of evidence by the learned Principal

District and Sessions Judge, in paragraphs 12 and 13 the Trial Judge

concluded that the offence under Section 417 of IPC is attracted. The learned

Judge had arrived at such( Uploaded https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis a conclusion by referring to the fact that from the on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

inception, the Accused had no intention to marry PW1. He had given a false

belief to the Prosecutrix in order to exploit her and it can be inferred through

the deposition of PW1. Therefore, under the pretext of marriage, he had

obtained consent and such consent is not valid. While so, the Appellant cannot

claim that a false case had been foisted on him.

17. In the ruling of the Hon’ble Supreme Court referred to by the

counsel for the Appellant, it was a case where the Appellant therein had sexual

intercourse with the Prosecutrix on a false promise to marry her. In that case

also the Prosecutrix consented for sexual intercourse and they had exchanged

sexual bliss for over a period of five years. Ultimately, on coming to know

that the Appellant therein got married to another woman, the prosecution came

to be launched against the Appellant. In that case, it was held that the false

promise itself must be of immediate relevance or bear a direct nexus to the

woman's decision to engage in the sexual act. In that case, referring to the

acquaintance of the Appellant and Prosecutrix since 1998 and the complaint

was filed on 17.05.2016, the Honourable Supreme Court has held that even the

plea of the Prosecutrix that there was a false promise to marry her cannot be

believed. This judgment will not help the case of the Appellant in this case in

any manner. In this case, the https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Prosecutrix was made to believe that the Accused ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

will marry her. The Accused was the friend of the elder brother of the

Prosecutrix and it is not denied. Therefore, the Appellant knew the caste to

which the Prosecutrix belong to. There are minor contradictions in the cross

examination of P.W-2 to P.W-5 which, in the opinion of this Court, will not

help the Appellant/Accused to wriggle out of the case. Just because, the

Investigation Officer did not verify the mobile number of the Accused and the

mobile number of the Prosecutrix or did not obtain call records from the

service providers of the mobile phone of Accused as well as the Prosecutrix, it

will not be a ground to disbelieve the testimony of the Prosecutrix. When the

Appellant claims that at no point of time he had sexual intercourse with the

Appellant, he ought to have proved it by stepping into the witness box by

himself. In the present case, the Appellant maintained stoic silence without

examining any witness to strengthen his defence. In such circumstances, even

on the basis of the testimony of the Prosecutrix, which is free from any

blemish or suppression, a conviction can be based against the Appellant for the

offence under Section 417 of IPC. The deposition of PW1 that she had sexual

intercourse with the Appellant for over 25 times cannot be discredited with. It

is also to be pointed out that in the absence of a promise to marry, the

Prosecutrix could not have consented to have sexual intercourse for over 25

times within a period of (two https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis years from 2011 to 2013. In such view of the Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

matter, the Trial Court rightly convicted the Appellant for the offence under

Section 417 of IPC, which does not require any interference by this Court. It is

a case of obtaining consent under the pretext of marriage and a love affair with

an intention to exploit the Prosecutrix sexually and later, by citing the caste as

a reason for not marrying her. The questions put to the Prosecutrix by the

learned Sessions Judge under Section 165 Cr.P.C., indicates that there was

consent on the part of the Prosecutrix as she believed the words of the Accused

that he would marry her.

18. As rightly pointed by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, in

the above judgment, the Honourable Supreme Court has held that

“misconception of fact amounts to absence of concept- consent based on

misconception of fact is not consent in the eyes of law.” The learned

Additional Public Prosecutor pointed out that there is a distinction between

mere breach of promise and not fulfilling the false promise. The court must

examine whether consent was made at an early stage with a false promise of

marriage by this Accused. Here it was a false promise and initially the

Prosecutrix did not consent. The Appellant prevailed on her that he will take

care of the problems relating to the caste between the two. The Accused did

not have any valid defence https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis to disprove this and therefore he did not cross ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

examine the prosecution witnesses. The observation of the Hon’ble Supreme

Court in the reported ruling that “misconception of fact alleged by the

complainant is the Appellant's promise to marry her squarely applies to this

case. The false promise was given by the Appellant/Accused from the

beginning with a clear understanding that he can breach it at a later point of

time by referring to the caste as a reason. Therefore, this Court is of the view

that the breach of promise by the Appellant/Accused in this case is not made in

good faith even at the threshold.

19. In the ruling reported in (2019) 9 SCC 608 in the case of Pramod

Suryabhan Pawar Vs. State of Maharashtra and another, the case is under

Section 375 of IPC whereas the learned Judge in this case had acquitted the

Accused from the charge under Section 376 of IPC, but convicted the Accused

for the offence under Section 417 of IPC. Therefore, the ruling cited by the

learned Counsel for the Appellant will not be applicable to this case.

20. As rightly pointed by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor,

this is a case where the Accused had obtained consent under the pretext of

marrying the Prosecutrix. Even though the Prosecutrix refused, he made her

believe that he will marry her and she believed such promise. In the cross https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

examination of the parents of the victim, P.W-2 and P.W-3 it was stated that

they belong to two different communities. The elder brother of the victim,

P,W-4 and his wife P.W-5 also belong to different communities and they are

also intercaste couple. Therefore, the Accused is alleged to have made her to

believe that he will marry her as like her parents who belong to different

community. He is aware of the status of the family of the victim and also was

aware that such a promise is false and it was made only to have sexual

intercourse with the Prosecutrix. The Prosecutrix also believed the promise

made by the Appellant, but after he openly neglected and exploited her, the

complaint was given. It is also to be mentioned that the sentence of one year of

simple imprisonment imposed on the Appellant is also lesser and befitting the

nature of offence committed by him. Therefore also, this Court declines to

interfere with the judgment of the Trial Court.

21. In the light of the above discussion, the point for consideration is

answered in favour of the Prosecution and against the Appellant. The

Judgment passed by the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge,

Tiruppur in Spl.S.C.No.29 of 2014 dated 03.12.2018 is well reasoned

judgment. It is found proper. It does not warrant any interference by this

Court.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

22. In the result, this Criminal Appeal is dismissed. The Judgment

passed by the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, Tiruppur in

Spl.S.C.No.29 of 2014 dated 03.12.2018 is confirmed. The learned Sessions

Judge, Thirupur is directed to take steps to secure the Appellant so as to

undergo the remaining period of sentence.

03.03.2025 dh Index: Yes/No Internet: Yes/No Speaking Order/Non-speaking Order

To

1.The Principal District and Sessions Judge, Tiruppur.

2.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, All Women Police Station, Dharapuram, Tiruppur District.

3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

4.The Section Officer, Criminal Section, High Court, Madras.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

SATHI KUMAR SUKUMARA KURUP, J

dh

Judgment in

03.03.2025

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 10/03/2025 05:17:15 pm )

 
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