Allahabad High Court Upholds Conviction, Modifies Sentence in 1985 Rape Case

The Allahabad High Court has upheld the conviction of a man for a 1985 rape case in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, while reducing his prison sentence to time already served. Despite contradictions and a lack of forensic evidence, the court found the evidence sufficient for conviction.

The Allahabad High Court has affirmed the conviction of Habib in a decades-old rape case from 1985 in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. However, his eight-year sentence was reduced to time served, given his seven years already spent behind bars. Justice Tej Pratap Tiwari announced this decision while partially granting Habib's appeal against his conviction.

The incident, as per the prosecution, occurred on October 26, 1985. A nine-year-old victim was allegedly raped by Habib, a fellow villager, near a field while she was gathering mustard leaves. Villagers rushed to her aid upon hearing her cries, prompting Habib to flee the scene. Evidence, including bloodstains on the victim's clothes, was collected, and a police case was registered.

Despite a medical examination indicating injuries, the supplementary report fell short of conclusively proving rape. The defense highlighted inconsistencies in the victim's account, lack of external injuries, and absence of forensic analysis on clothes and soil samples. Nevertheless, the State countered that minor discrepancies did not undermine the victim's testimony or medical evidence. Concluding that sufficient evidence existed for conviction, the court adjusted Habib's sentence in light of his time served and advanced age.