Learned counsel for the peti t ioner, inter alia, submits that although, a s per the FIR age of the vi c tim is stated to be 17 years, however, a ccording to the testimony of t he victim as PW-2 before the learned tri a l Court (Annexure P-3) she w as 18 years old on the date of alleged in c ident; whereas the petitioner h imself was 20 years old. It is submitted that in actual fact, the petitio n er and the victim were in a consensua l relationship. Even talks of m a rriage were going on between the parties , however, father of the victim was against their relationship, therefore, t he same could not be fructify. N ow, talks for marriage are still going on a nd parents of the petitioner are still agreeable to the marriage. Further, it i s submitted that the victim and h er mother/complainant in their testimonie s as PW-2 and PW-3 before the learned trial Court (Annexures P-3 and P - 4, respectively), have not supp o rted the prosecution story and have turned hostile. Moreover, the petiti o ner has been in custody since 27.05.202 3 . There is no other case aga i nst the petitioner. Thus, it is prayed tha t he may be released on regular b ail.
