Thane court acquits man accused of raping minor girl, cites inconsistencies in her testimony

THANE: (Apr 15) A Thane court has acquitted a 53-year-old man of charges of raping a minor girl, ruling that the prosecution’s evidence was not "cogent and clinching" and questioning the victim’s claim of recording the act on her phone.

Special Judge Premal S Vithalani (for POCSO Act cases), in the order on April 9, also highlighted contradictions in the victim's testimony.

The prosecution alleged that between December 2022 and January 2023, the man, a tailor by profession and neighbour of the 17-year-old victim in Thane city, raped her on multiple occasions after obtaining her house keys from her mother.