A man accused of raping a woman on false promise of marriage has been acquitted by a Delhi court which said there were "overwhelming inconsistencies" in the deposition of the complainant.
"It is clear that the consent of the girl on the promise to marry cannot be said to be under a misconception of fact as she was a major at the time of the alleged incident," Additional Sessions Judge Nivedita Anil Sharma said, while acquitting Delhi resident Bheem.
"No inference can be drawn that Bheem (accused) is guilty of the charged offence under sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating) and section 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC as the girl has made inconsistent statements due to which her testimony becomes unreliable and unworthy of credence," the court said.
According to the prosecution, the 19-year-old girl met the accused while working in a factory in Mayapuri here and they became friends subsequently.
Later, the accused told her that he wanted to marry her and made physical relations with her, it had said.
Thereafter, he continued having physical relations with her on the false promise of marriage, it had submitted.
The prosecution had contended that the girl did not object to the man's acts as he had assured that he would marry her but later when he refused to marry her, she reported the matter to the police after which the accused was arrested.
During the trial, Bheem had claimed he was innocent and had been falsely implicated in the case.
"This court is completely satisfied that the prosecution has failed to bring home the charge against the accused... Accordingly, Bheem, is hereby acquitted of the charges," the judge said.