Pappu @ Mithilesh Manjhi v. State of Chhattisgarh
Case brief
What is this about?
Chhattisgarh HC (DB, 03.02.2026) acquits accused in CRA 656/2022: conviction under SS. 363, 366, 376(3), 376(2)(n) IPC set aside — school-register date of birth (24.10.2004) unproved (no entry-maker examined, no birth certificate, Kotwari register or ossification test; Alamelu, Rishipal Singh Solanki, P. Yuvaprakash relied on); victim's voluntary elopement to Nagpur/Pune without protest or injury, consensual relations; S. Varadarajan (AIR 1965 SC 942) 'taking' vs accompanying distinction relied on; sole testimony of victim must inspire confidence; S. 481 BNSS, 2023 personal bond Rs. 25,000/-.
What did the court decide?
Appeal allowed; judgment of conviction and sentence set aside; appellant acquitted of all charges and to be released forthwith if not required in any other case; directed to furnish a personal bond of Rs. 25,000/- with one surety in the like amount under Section 481 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, effective for six months, with an undertaking to appear before the Hon'ble Supreme Court if a Special Leave Petition is filed.