DEEPAK KUMAR SAHU versus STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

DEEPAK KUMAR SAHU versus STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

The victim's testimony was found to be credible, consistent and corroborated by attendant evidence including the brother and family members, the victim's age was proved by school marksheet, and the absence of emphatic medical corroboration or external injuries did not undermine the prosecution; accordingly the convictions and sentence were upheld.

Parties
Appellant: Deepak Kumar Sahu; Respondent: State of Chhattisgarh
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
04 August 2025
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal to Supreme Court Against High Court Judgment
Outcome
Criminal Appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence upheld.
Legal Topics
Rape, Medical Corroboration, Testimony of Prosecutrix, Age of Victim / Applicability of POCSO
Criminal Law Sexual Offences Evidence Penal Code, 1860 POCSO Act, 2012 Rape Medical Corroboration Testimony of Prosecutrix +1 more

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Parties

Deepak Kumar Sahu

Appellant

State of Chhattisgarh

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Appeal to Supreme Court Against High Court Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the High Court was justified in upholding conviction and sentence awarded to the appellant
  2. 2 Whether absence of emphatic medical evidence or external injury marks undermines the prosecutrix's testimony
  3. 3 Whether the victim was a minor on the date of the offence to attract POCSO Act

Ratio Decidendi

The victim's testimony was found to be credible, consistent and corroborated by attendant evidence including the brother and family members, the victim's age was proved by school marksheet, and the absence of emphatic medical corroboration or external injuries did not undermine the prosecution; accordingly the convictions and sentence were upheld.

Court Disposition

Criminal Appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence upheld.

Orders

  • Criminal Appeal No. 3352 of 2025 is dismissed.
  • The conviction and sentence awarded to the appellant by the trial court and confirmed by the High Court are upheld (convictions under Sections 450 and 376(2) IPC and Section 4 POCSO Act; substantive sentence of rigorous imprisonment for 10 years under Section 376(2) IPC with fine of ₹1,000 and other sentences as...