Madhya Pradesh HC BHOPAL/JABALPUR: The Madhya Pradesh high court has refused to interfere with the judgment of a Pocso court in Narmadapuram district awarding 20 years of rigorous imprisonment to a person accused of having sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, whom he married later. The couple now has a child.A division bench of Justices Vivek Agarwal and R K Choubey said the consent of a minor to a sexual relationship was immaterial, and a decision to suspend the sentence of a person convicted for rape under the Pocso Act could be taken only by Supreme Court exercising its power under Article 142 of the Constitution.Earlier, counsel for the appellant contended that coordinate benches granted relief of suspension of sentence even in the case of a 14-year-old girl, whereas in the present case, the age of the survivor was 17 and she was a consenting partner. Heartbreak, divorce & deadly crimes | Dark Truth Of Failed Marriages | Ft. Anand Handa The bench, however, stated that it was a “prerogative of the Supreme Court to take a call by exercising its authority under Article 142”.According to the prosecution’s case, on June 1, 2023, the rape survivor lodged a police complaint in Itarsi stating that she used to visit her grandmother and became acquainted with the appellant on one such visit. On Feb 14, 2023, he invited her to lunch at his house. There, he raped her and threatened to kill her if she disclosed it to anyone, she alleged, adding he blackmailed and raped her on three more occasions. The accused married the survivor when he came out on bail during the trial.The appellant’s counsel pleaded for leniency saying a son was born out of wedlock, and the survivor would be left to take care of him alone. The court, however, said since it was established that the survivor was a minor at the time, the accused could not be absolved of the charge.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosKhaleda Zia’s funeral: EAM Jaishankar Hands Over Modi’s Letter To BNP Chief Tarique Rahman In DhakaThrowback 25: Five Indian Weapons That Crushed Terror And Dominated Pakistan in Operation SindoorTerror, Tariffs, Polls: PM Modi’s Mic-Drop Moments That Set The Agenda In 2025Top Moments Of 2025 When Indian Diplomats Took On Pakistan, Tore Apart Lies & Hypocrisy At UNThrowback 2025: Five Big Moments When India Defied Pressure And Delivered Diplomatic MasterstrokesAyodhya Faced Conspiracies But Sanatan Prevailed, UP CM Yogi Adityanath Says At Ram Temple EventIndia’s Backyard In Flux: Nepal’s Gen Z Revolt To Pakistan’s Court Chaos Shakes South Asia In 2025Army Trains Village Defence Guards In J&K In Automatic Rifles, Self-Defence | WatchLeT Deputy Saifullah Kasuri Admits India Hit Terror Camps, Threatens Kashmir After Op Sindoor StrikeTwist in Osman Hadi Murder Case: Prime Accused Blames Jamaat From Dubai, Clears India’s Role123PhotostoriesFrom boardrooms to weddings: 5 global luxury brands Indian men are wearing right nowWhat 2025 taught us about health: The biggest lessons of the year10 best New Year traditions to celebrate the start of 2026Food poisoning vs. gastrointestinal infection: What’s the difference?10 South Indian breads that are so soulfulWalking through 2025: The year we put our best foot forwardSkip the crowds in 2026: 10 offbeat destinations in India for New Year travel5 relationship habits to inculcate in 2026 to make it the best year of your lifeFrom soldier to supermodel: 5 looks that made BTS’ V the ultimate fashion muse of 20258 traditional Bengali snacks that are best enjoyed during winter123Hot PicksSaudi Strike YemenPAN-Aadhaar link statusBank holiday New YearGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundBahrain Golden Visa 2025Bank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingJustin Thomas Net WorthWWE Star Nikki BellaCardi BCeeDee Lamb Luxury Car CollectionStefon DiggsCaitlin ClarkTom BradyMicah Parsons vs CeeDee Lamb Net WorthNHL Injury UpdateVanessa Bryant
BHOPAL/JABALPUR: The Madhya Pradesh high court has refused to interfere with the judgment of a Pocso court in Narmadapuram district awarding 20 years of rigorous imprisonment to a person accused of having sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, whom he married later. The couple now has a child.A division bench of Justices Vivek Agarwal and R K Choubey said the consent of a minor to a sexual relationship was immaterial, and a decision to suspend the sentence of a person convicted for rape under the Pocso Act could be taken only by Supreme Court exercising its power under Article 142 of the Constitution.Earlier, counsel for the appellant contended that coordinate benches granted relief of suspension of sentence even in the case of a 14-year-old girl, whereas in the present case, the age of the survivor was 17 and she was a consenting partner.
The bench, however, stated that it was a “prerogative of the Supreme Court to take a call by exercising its authority under Article 142”.According to the prosecution’s case, on June 1, 2023, the rape survivor lodged a police complaint in Itarsi stating that she used to visit her grandmother and became acquainted with the appellant on one such visit. On Feb 14, 2023, he invited her to lunch at his house. There, he raped her and threatened to kill her if she disclosed it to anyone, she alleged, adding he blackmailed and raped her on three more occasions. The accused married the survivor when he came out on bail during the trial.The appellant’s counsel pleaded for leniency saying a son was born out of wedlock, and the survivor would be left to take care of him alone. The court, however, said since it was established that the survivor was a minor at the time, the accused could not be absolved of the charge.
