Vinod Prakash @ Vin Sharma S/O Late Sh. Omprakash Sharma Vs State of Rajasthan — Rajasthan HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Vinod Prakash @ Vin Sharma S/O Late Sh. Omprakash Sharma Vs State of Rajasthan — Rajasthan HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

None. Both the criminal revision petition (No. 1361/2023) and the connected miscellaneous petition (No. 1610/2023) are dismissed and the impugned orders dated 13-02-2023 and 16-08-2023 are confirmed; the bail application is also dismissed accordingly; the trial court is directed to proceed expeditiously.

Issue for consideration

Whether the trial court's order dated 13-02-2023 rejecting the accused's application for further investigation was in accordance with facts and law. +1 more

Court's answer

The order dated 13-02-2023 rejecting the accused's request for further investigation is wholly in accordance with facts and law: the investigating officer had fully investigated, including on the accused's detailed memorandum, and if any defence of the accused still survives he is free to raise it before the trial court during the evidence stage.

Ratio / Principle

On the stage of the case, having regard to the allegations levelled and statements made by the victim, the question of her consent to the physical relations does not arise.

Key takeaways

Strong material and evidence exist to frame/retain the charges against the accused; on the point of consent, the accused may take his side as defence evidence at the trial.ratio¶57
The FIR lodged by the victim about one-and-a-half years after the events does not, in the circumstances, fail for want of complete and dated recollection of every incident; the allegations in the FIR were verified through statements under Sections 161 and 164 CrPC with no major discrepancy.ratio¶53
In a case of rape, expectation of an independent witness is not appropriate; the victim's statement and other collected material are what carry weight.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Rajasthan High Court (Jaipur Bench), Uma Shanker Vyas, J.: Dismisses S.B. Criminal Revision Petition No. 1361/2023 and connected S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous (Petition) No. 1610/2023 filed by Vinod Prakash @ Vin Sharma, confirming (i) the Additional Sessions Judge (Women Exploitation Cases), Jaipur City First's order dated 13-02-2023 in Sessions Case No. 36/2023 rejecting his plea for further investigation, and (ii) the same court's order dated 16-08-2023 framing charges against him under Sections 376(2)(n) and 506 IPC. Held that the investigating officer duly examined the accused's detailed memorandum and the charge-sheet followed; the plea that the relations were consensual/honey-trap raises no question of consent at this stage since strong material and evidence exist to prosecute, the accused being free to lead consent as defence evidence at trial; the ~1.5-year delay in the FIR is not fatal, the FIR allegations being verified through Section 161/164 CrPC statements without major discrepancy; in a rape case an independent witness is not to be expected. Precedents cited (Vinubhai Haribhai Malaviya; State of Tamil Nadu v. Krishnaswami Naidu; Yogesh; P. Vijayan; Pramod Suryabhan Pawar; Deepak Gulati) were treated as fact-dependent, not universal principles. Trial court directed to dispose of the matter expeditiously.

[2025:RJ-JP:25558]

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

S.B. Criminal Revision Petition No. 1361/2023

Vinod Prakash @ Vin Sharma S/o Late Sh. Omprakash Sharma, Aged About 35 Years, R/o Plot No. 51,52 Second Floor, Nemi Nagar, Vaishali Nagar, Thana Chitrakoot Nagar, District Jaipur (Raj)

----Petitioner

Versus

State Of Rajsthan, Through P.p

----Respondent

Connected With

S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous (Petition) No. 1610/2023 Vinod Prakash @ Vin Sharma S/o Late Sh. Omprakash Sharma, Aged About 35 Years, R/o Plot No. 51,52, Second Floor, Nemi Nagar, Vaishali Nagar, Thana Chitrakoot Nagar, District Jaipur (Raj)

----Petitioner

Versus

State Of Rajasthan, Through The P.p.

----Respondent

For Petitioner(s)	:	Mr. Praveen Balwada, Adv. Mr. Mohit Balwada, Adv. Ms. Bhavna Choudhary, Adv. Mr. Sunil Shekhawat, Adv. Mr. Aditya Raj, Adv.
For	:	Ms. Manju Dave, PP
Respondent(s)		Mr. Poonam Chand Bhandari, Adv.
		Dr. T N Sharma, Adv.

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE UMA SHANKER VYAS

Judgment / Order

[CRLR-1361/2023]

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10/07/2025

;kph@vfHk;qDr dh vksj ls ,dyihB nkf.Md fofo/k ;kfpdk la[;k&1610@2023 fo}ku vfrfjDr ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k ¼efgyk mRihMu izdj.k½ t;iqj egkuxj izFke }kjk ls'ku izdj.k la[;k&36@2023 esa ikfjr vk{ksfir vkns'k fnukad 13-02-2023 ls O;fFkr gksdj izLrqr dh xbZ] ftlds ek/;e ls vfHk;qDr ds vfxze vuqla/kku dk vkosnu vLohdkj fd;k x;kA

,dyihB nkf.Md fuxjkuh ;kfpdk la[;k&1361@2023 mijksDr fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk blh ls'ku izdj.k esa fnukad 16-08-2023 dks ikfjr vk{ksfir vkns'k ls O;fFkr gksdj izLrqr dh x;h gS] ftlds ek/;e ls vfHk;qDr dks /kkjk 376¼2½¼,u½ o 506 Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk ds vkjksi ls vkjksfir fd;k x;k gSA

nksuksa izdj.k layXu fd;s tkus ls lquokbZ gsrq ,d lkFk izLrqr gq, gSa] ftu ij fo}ku vf/koDrk ;kph] fo}ku vf/koDrk ifjoknh o fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd dh cgl lquh xbZ ,oa vfHkys[k dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA

lqlaxr rF; ;g gS fd fnukad 16-02-2022 dh jkf= ds le; ihfM+rk ds ?kj ds ckgj Hkaoj flag rFkk vfHk;qDr fouksn izdk'k }kjk gaxkek o 'kkafr Hkax dk dfFkr :i ls d`R; fd;k x;k ftlds vk/kkj ij /kkjk 151 n.M izfØ;k lafgrk ds rgr dk;Zokgh dj mijksDr nksuksa O;fDr;ksa dks fu:) fd;k x;kA rRi'pkr~ vkxkeh fnol fnukad 17-02-2022 dks 20 o"khZ; ihfM+rk }kjk vfHk;qDr ds fo:) izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ntZ djokdj ;g vkjksi yxk;k fd T;wuh;j czkaM izk- fy- dh QeZ esa tkWc ds fy, og fnukad 16-05-2020 dks baVjO;w ds fy,

[CRLR-1361/2023]

[2025:RJ-JP:25558]

(3 of 8)

mifLFkr gqbZ tgka vfHk;qDr fouksn izdk'k rFkk ,d vU; efgyk fiz;adk }kjk mldk lk{kkRdkj fy;k x;k] fnukad 26-06-2020 dks mls fu;qfDr i= tkjh fd;k x;k] ijarq og bl tkWc ls larq"V ugha Fkh] ysfdu mijksDr vk/kkj ij vfHk;qDr us ihfM+rk ls laidZ gksus dk vuqfpr ykHk mBkdj yxkrkj ihfM+rk ls Qksu ij laidZ djuk 'kq: dj fn;kA tqykbZ] 2020 ds izFke lIrkg esa vPNs LFkku o csgrj tkWc fnykus ds fy, esjh;V gksVy esa cqyk;k ogka dksYMfMªad fiykdj mlds lkFk nq"deZ dj QksVks [khap fy, rFkk ckn esa ok;jy djus dh /kedh nsdj yEcs le; rd vusd ckj blh gksVy esa cqykdj mlds lkFk nq"deZ fd;k rFkk vfHk;qDr }kjk mls ckj&ckj CySdesy fd;k x;kA

fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDr dk ;g rdZ gS fd okLro esa ;g guhVªSi dk ekeyk gS] vfHk;qDr o ihfM+rk ds chp tks Hkh 'kkjhfjd laca/k cus og lgefr ls cus gSa] ihfM+rk }kjk dgha Hkh fdlh Hkh volj ij dksbZ fojks/k ugha fd;k x;k gSA ihfMrk }kjk vius o vius ekrk&firk ds Hkkstu vkfn dh O;oLFkk ds :i esa ykHk izkIr fd;k gS rFkk dqN voljksa ij vfHk;qDr ls jkf'k Hkh izkIr dh xbZ gSA vfHk;qDr us ihfM+rk dks eksckbZy fnyk;k] le;≤ ij fjpktZ djok;kA mudk ;g Hkh fuosnu gS fd vfHk;qDr fookfgr Fkk vkSj bl rF; dh tkudkjh izkjaHk ls ihfMrk dks Fkh] vr% fookg dh laHkkouk ugha Fkh fQj Hkh lgefr ls ihfM+rk }kjk vfHk;qDr ds lkFk 'kkjhfjd laca/k cuk;s x;s gSaA vr% ;g ekeyk iw.kZr;k lgefr dk gksdj nq"deZ dk ekeyk ugha curk gSA ;g Hkh fuosnu fd;k fd

[CRLR-1361/2023]

[2025:RJ-JP:25558]

(4 of 8)

bl ?kVuk ds laca/k esa ihfM+rk ds vykok fdlh Hkh Lora= xokg dh dksbZ lk{; vkfn izLrqr ugha dh gSA

fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDr }kjk vkijkf/kd fofo/k ;kfpdk ds laca/k esa ;g Hkh fuosnu x;k fd bl ekeys esa vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh }kjk fu"i{k vuqla/kku ugha fd;k x;k gS] bl ij bl U;k;ky; esa vkijkf/kd fofo/k ;kfpdk izLrqr dh xbZ Fkh ftlesa vfHk;qDr ds }kjk vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh ds le{k foLr`r izfrosnu e; nLrkost ds is'k djus o ml ij vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh }kjk vuqla/kku djus dk funsZ'k fn;k x;k] ysfdu bl vkns'k dh ikyuk vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh }kjk ugha dj vkjksi i= U;k;ky; esa izLrqr dj fn;k x;k rFkk fopkj.k ls'ku U;k;ky; }kjk mijksDr ifjfLFkfr;ksa ds ckotwn vfxze vuqla/kku dk vkosnu vk{ksfir vkns'k fnukad 13-02-2023 ds ek/;e ls vLohdkj dj fn;k x;kA bl vkns'k dks rFkk vkjksi fojfpr fd;s tkus ds vkns'k dks rF;ksa o fof/k ds vuq:i ugha gksuk crkrs gq, vikLr fd;s tkus o mfpr vkns'k ikfjr fd;s tkus dk fuosnu fd;kA

fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd o fo}ku vf/koDrk ifjoknh dk rdZ gS fd lgefr dk fo"k; lk{; dk gS] vfHk;qDr }kjk vuqfpr :i ls ihfM+rk dk 'kks"k.k fd;k x;k gS] bZ&esy o vU; nwjlapkj ek/;eksa ls ihfM+rk o mlds ifjtuksa dks /kedhHkjs vFkok HkkoukRed lans'k Hksts x;s gSaA ihfM+rk dh ekrk dks ihfM + rk ds v.MjxkjesUV~l ds QksVks Hkh Hksts x;s gSaA bl izdkj vfHk;qDr }kjk ihfM+rk ds lkFk ekufld o HkkoukRed 'kkjhfjd 'kks"k.k ncko nsdj fd;k x;k gS] ,sls esa lgefr dk ekeyk ugha ekuk tk ldrkA vfxze vuqla/kku ds laca/k esa mudk ;g fuosnu jgk gS fd iqfyl }kjk vfHk;qDr i{k dh vksj ls izLrqr

[2025:RJ-JP:25558]

(5 of 8) [CRLR-1361/2023]

izfrosnu ij lE;d :i ls fopkj fd;k x;k gS] vfHk;qDr vuqla/kku dh fn'kk r; ugha dj ldrk gS] ;g vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh dk foosdkf/kdkj gS] var esa vkijkf/kd fofo/k ;kfpdk o fuxjkuh ;kfpdk nksuksa [kkfjt fd;s tkus dk fuosnu fd;kA

tgka rd vfxze vuqla/kku ds laca/k esa ikfjr vk{ksfir vkns'k fnukad 13-02-2023 dk iz'u gS] fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDr }kjk izLrqr U;kf;d n"Vkar Vinubhai Haribhai Malaviya and Others Vs. State of Gujarat and Another (2019) 17 SCC 1 ds ekeys esa fu"i{k vuqla/kku ds laca/k esa U;k;ky;ksa dh vf/kdkfjrk ds laca/k esa fof/kd O;oLFkk izfrikfnr dh x;h gSA vU; U;kf;d n"Vkar State of Tamil Nadu Vs. V. Krishnaswami Naidu and Another (1979) 4 SCC 5 ds ekeys esa ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k x;k gS fd fof'k"B U;k;k/kh'k ftudks eftLVªsV dh 'kfDr;ka gSa] muds }kjk Hkh vfxze vuqla/kku dk vkns'k fn;k tk ldrk gSA

orZeku ekeys esa vfHk;qDr ds fo:) izLrqr vkjksi i= ds vuqlkj ;g Li"V gS fd vfHk;qDr }kjk fu"i{k vuqla/kku o vius cpko ds l a ca/k esa ,d foLr`r izfrosnu izLrqr fd;k x;k] ysfdu ml ij fopkj djus ds mijkar vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh dk ;g er jgk fd vfHk;qDr ds fo:) vkjksfir vijk/k izekf.kr gks jgk gS vkSj bl vk/kkj ij vkjksi i= izLrqr fd;k x;k gSA fo}ku ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k }kjk fnukad 13-02-2023 ds vkns'k ds ek/;e ls ;g vfHker izdV fd;k x;k gS fd vc vfxze vuqla/kku ds laca/k esa dksbZ vkns'k fn;s tkus dh vko';drk ugha gS rFkk vfHk;qDr ds cpko vHkh 'ks"k jgrs gSa rks lk{; lQkbZ ds nkSjku izLrqr fd;s tk ldrs gSaA vfHk;qDr ds

[2025:RJ-JP:25558]

(6 of 8)

[CRLR-1361/2023]

izfrosnu vkfn ij Hkh bl U;k;ky; }kjk fopkj fd;k x;kA vfHk;qDr dk eq[; cpko ;g jgk gS fd ekeyk vkilh lgefr dk vFkok guhVªSi dk gS] bl laca/k esa vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh }kjk vius foosdkuqlkj lE;d :i ls vuqla/kku fd;k tk pqdk gS] vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa vfxze vuqla/kku ds laca/k esa fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk vk{ksfir vkns'k ds ek/;e ls vfHk;qDr dk tks vkosnu [kkfjt fd;k x;k gS] og iw.kZr% rF;ksa o fof/k ds vuq:i gSA ;g Li"V fd;k tkrk gS fd vfHk;qDr dk vHkh Hkh dksbZ cpko 'ks"k jgrk gS rks og lk{; lQkbZ ds nkSjku fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds le{k viuk i{k j[kus gsrq fuosnu djus gsrq Lora= gSA

tgka rd vfHk;qDr ds fo:) vkjksi fojfpr djus dk iz'u gS] fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDr dh vksj ls izLrqr U;kf;d n"Vkar Yogesh Alias Sachin Jagdish Joshi Vs. State of Maharashtra (2008) 10 SCC 394 o P. Vijayan Vs. State of Kerala and Another (2010) 2 SCC 398 esa izfrikfnr O;oLFkk ds vuqlkj ;g izdV gqvk gS fd ek= lansg ds vk/kkj ij vfHk;qDr ds fo:) vkjksi fojfpr fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha gS] vfirq lqn<+ lansg dk ekeyk izdV gksuk visf{kr gS vkSj bl O;oLFkk ds laca/k esa fojks/kh i{k }kjk Hkh dksbZ fookn ugha fd;k x;k gSA

vU; U;kf;d n`"Vkar Pramod Suryabhan Pawar Vs. State of Maharashtra & Another (2019) 9 SCC 608 rFkk Deepak Gulati Vs. State of Haryana (2013) 7 SCC 675 ds ekeys esa izdj.k dh fo'ks"k ifjfLFkfr;ksa ds vk/kkj ij lgefr ds laca/k esa vfHker izdV fd;k x;k gS] mijksDr U;kf;d

[CRLR-1361/2023]

[2025:RJ-JP:25558]

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fu.kZ;ksa esa dksbZ Lof.kZe loZekU; fl)kar izfrikfnr ugha gqvk gS cfYd izdj.k fo'ks"k ds rF;ksa ij ;s fuHkZj djrs gSaA

orZeku ekeys esa fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDr dk ;g Hkh fuosnu gS fd izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ foyEc ls gS] ysfdu ihfM+rk }kjk izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa gh ;g mYys[k fd;k gS fd vfHk;qDr }kjk izFke ckj mlds lkFk nq"deZ fd;s tkus ds ckn v'yhy QksVks ok;jy djus dh /kedh nsdj mldk yxkrkj 'kks"k.k fd;k gS vkSj og ekufld volkn dh fLFkfr esa jgh gSA i'pkr~orhZ voljksa ij Hkh blh ifjfLFkfr dk ykHk mBkdj nq"deZ fd;s tkus dk vkjksi ihfM+rk }kjk yxk;k x;k gSA vuqla/kku ds nkSjku ladfyr lkexzh ds vk/kkj ij fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDr dk ;g fuosnu gS fd tqykbZ] 2020 ds izFke lIrkg ds ctk; ihfM+rk o vfHk;qDr esjh;V gksVy esa twu ekg esa x;s Fks] vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa ;g fojks/kkHkkl gSA

tSlk fd Åij foospu fd;k x;k gS izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ihfM+rk }kjk mijksDr izfrdwy ifjfLFkfr;ksa ds dkj.k ls 1-5 o"kZ i'pkr~ ntZ djokbZ xbZ gS] vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa 1-5 o"kZ i'pkr~ ?kVuk dk iw.kZ o rkjh[k okbZt o`Rrkar ihfM+rk dks ;kn jgs] ;g izR;sd ifjfLFkfr esa vko';d ugha gSA ihfM+rk }kjk izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa yxk;s x;s vkjksiksa dh iqf"V vius /kkjk 161 o 164 n.M izfØ;k lafgrk ds dFkuksa esa dh xbZ gS rFkk muesa dksbZ lkjoku folaxfr ugha gSA nq"deZ ds ekeys esa Lora= xokg dh vis{kk dh tkuk mfpr ugha gS cfYd ihfM+rk dk dFku o vU; lkexzh gh egRoiw.kZ gksrh gSA

[CRLR-1361/2023]

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tgka rd ihfMrk dh lgefr gksus dk iz'u gS] mlds } kjk yxk;s x;s vkjksi] dFku vkfn dks ns[krs gq, bl LVst ij 'kkjhfjd laca/k cukus gsrq ihfMrk dh lgefr dk ekeyk izdV ugha gks jgk gSA vfHk;qDr ds fo:) vkjksi fojfpr djus gsrq lqn`< lkexzh o lk{; jgh gSA lgefr ds fcUnq ij vfHk;qDr fopkj.k ds nkSjku cpko lk{; esa viuk i{k j[k ldrk gSA ;gka ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd vfHk;qDr ds fo:) bUgha vijk/kksa esa izlaKku fy;k x;k Fkk tks v[kf.Mr jgk gSA

mijksDr foospukuqlkj vk{ksfir vkns'k fnukad 13-02-2023 rFkk 16-08-2023 iw.kZr% rF;ksa o fof/k ds vuq:i gS] vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa mijksDr vk{ksfir vkns'kksa dh iqf"V djrs gq, ;g vkijkf/kd fofo/k ;kfpdk o fuxjkuh ;kfpdk nksuksa [kkfjt dh tkrh gSA LFkxu izkFkZuk i= Hkh mijksDrkuqlkj [kkfjt fd;k tkrk gSA

pwafd vfHk;qDr ds fo:) nq"deZ ds xaHkhj vijk/k dk vkjksi gS] vHkh Hkh ihfMrk ds fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds le{k c;ku ugha gq, gSa] ,sls ekeyksa esa vfHk;qDr o ihfMrk nksuksa i{kksa ds n`f"Vdks.k ls fu"i{k o 'kh?kz fopkj.k visf{kr gS] vr% fopkj.k U;k;ky; dks vkns'k fn;k tkrk gS fd fcuk fdlh vuqfpr foyac ds izR;sd is'kh ij izHkkoh dk;Zokgh djrs gq, ;Fkk'kh?kz fopkj.k iw.kZdjus dk iz;kl djsA

(UMA SHANKER VYAS),J

Murari Lal Sharma /81-82

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
Order dated 13-02-2023 of the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Women Exploitation Cases), Jaipur City First in Sessions Case No. 36/2023 rejecting the accused's application for further investigation (challenged through S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous (Petition) No. 1610/2023); and order dated 16-08-2023 of the same court in the same sessions case framing charges against the accused under Sections 376(2)(n) and 506 IPC (challenged through S.B. Criminal Revision Petition No. 1361/2023).¶22
Additional Sessions Judge (Women Exploitation Cases), Jaipur City First - Sessions Case No. 36/2023 · 13-02-2023 and 16-08-2023
Prior proceeding
On the night of 16-02-2022, Babbar Singh and the accused Vinod Prakash allegedly committed hooliganism and disturbed peace outside the victim's house; action was taken under Section 151 CrPC and both persons were stopped.¶25
Prior proceeding
Next day, 17-02-2022, the 20-year-old victim lodged an FIR against the accusing that, for a job at Junior Brand Pvt. Ltd. (interview 16-05-2020; appointment letter 26-06-2020), the accused exploited her, including incidents at Meriat Hotel in July 2020, with threats to circulate obscene photographs.¶25
Prior proceeding
Appointment letter issued to the victim on 26-06-2020 following the job interview; she was not satisfied with the job, after which the accused allegedly kept contacting and exploiting her.¶29
Prior proceeding
An earlier additional miscellaneous petition in this Court had directed the accused to file a detailed memorandum before the investigating officer and the IO to investigate it; the IO did not comply, presented the charge-sheet, and the trial court rejected the further-investigation request on 13-02-2023.¶35
Prior proceeding
After considering the accused's detailed memorandum, the investigating officer formed the opinion that the offence against the accused stood proved and presented the charge-sheet accordingly.¶41
Prior proceeding
Allegations in the FIR were verified through the victim's statements under Sections 161 and 164 CrPC, with no major discrepancy found; FIR was lodged about 1.5 years after the events.¶53