STATE OF RAJASTHANversusROSHAN KHAN & ORS.

                       [2014) 1 S.C.R. 418


A                    STATE OF RAJASTHAN
                                V.
                    ROSHAN KHAN & ORS.
              (Criminal Appeal Nos. 79-80 of 2005)
                       JANUARY 15, 2014
B
        [A.K. PATNAIK AND GYAN SUDHA MISRA, JJ.]

        Penal Code, 1860:

c      ss.376(2)(g) and s.366 - Gang rape - Six accused
  convicted by trial court - Acquittal by High Court - Held:
  Prosecution case that the six accused committed gang rape
  on the prosecutrix has been established by her evidence and
  the evidence of her father as corroborated by medical
0 evidence and FSL report - Judgment of High Court set aside
  and that of trial court convicting all accused of offences
  charged and sentencing them to 10 years RI and 4 years RI
  under the two counts, restored.

       s.376(2)(g), Explanation 1 - Gang rape - Presumption
E - Held: In the instant case as per medical evidence, four
  persons had committed rape on prosecutrix - Explanation
  1 to s.376(2)(g) states that where a woman is raped by one or
  more in a group of persons acting in furtherance of their
  common intention, each of the persons shall be deemed to
F have committed gang rape within the meaning of the sub-
  section - It is, therefore, not necessary that prosecution
  should adduce clinching proof of a completed act of rape by
  each one of the accused on the victim.

        Evidence Act, 1872:
G
         s.114-A - Presumption in a gang rape uls 376(2)(g), /PC
    - Held: Since prosecutrix has categorically said that sexual
    intercourse was committed by accused persons without her

H                              418
STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. ROSHAN KHAN & ORS. 419

consent and forcibly, court has to draw the presumption that      A
she did not give consent to the sexual intercourse committed
on her by accused persons - - The defence has not led
any evidence to rebut the presumption - High Court could
not have, therefore, held that there were circumstances to show
that prosecutrix had gone on her own and on this ground           B
acquitted the respondents-Penal Code, 1860- ss.376(2)(g).

    FIR

    Gang rape - Four hours delay in filing FIR - Held: Delay
has been sufficiently explained by informant.                     C

     Accused-respondents nos. 1 to 6 were prosecuted
for committing offences punishable u/ss 376(2)(g) and 366
IPC on the allegations that in the night of occurrence,
they took away a 16 years old mentally deficient girl to a        o
secluded place and committed rape on her. The trial court
convicted all the six accused of the offences charged and
sentenced each of them to 10 years RI and 4 years RI
under the two counts. However, the High Court acquitted
them of both the charges.                                         E

    Allowing the appeals, the Court

     HELD 1.1. The informant (PW-1 ), father of the
prosecutrix, has deposed that 28.04.1999 was the date of
marriage of the daughter of his brother and during dusk           F
time on 27.04.1999, his daughter (the prosecutrix), who
was 14 years old and not mentally balanced, had gone
to call the ladies of the locality and when she did not
return, he went to search her, on the scooter driven by
his brother. They saw five persons, standing near an old          G
dilapidated building, who on seeing them, fled away.
When they went inside, they found that the prosecutrix
was crying and accused 'A' was lying over her and
having sexual intercourse with her. The prosecutrix (PW-
2) has categorically stated that all the six persons              H
   420     SUPREME COURT REPORTS            [2014] 1 S.C.R.


A committed rape on her without her consent and forcibly.
  The evidence of PW-1 and PW-2 that all the six
  respondents had committed rape on the prosecutrix is
  also corroborated by the complaint (Ext.P-1) made by
  PW-1 to the police within a few hours of the incident, as
B provided in s.157 of the Evidence Act. PW-7, the doctor
  has opined after medically examining the prosecutrix that
  there was nothing to suggest that she had not been
  raped. The report of the FSL supports the prosecution
  case. The medical evidence, therefore, also corroborates
c the evidence of PW-1 and PW-2 that there was sexual
  intercourse between the prosecutrix and the accused
  persons. [para 10, 11 and 14] [427-0-G; 428-8, D; 430-F-
  G; 431-8-C]
      1.2. Section 114A of the Evidence Act, 1872 clearly
D provides that in a prosecution for rape under clause (g)
  of sub-s. (2) of s.376, IPC, where sexual intercourse by
  the accused is proved and the question is whether it was
  without the consent of the woman alleged to have been
  raped and she states in her evidence before the court that
E she did not consent, the court shall presume that she did
  not conse.nt. Since the prosecutrix (PW-2) has
  categorically said that sexual intercourse was committed
  by accused persons without her consent and forcibly,
  the court has to draw the presumption that she did not
F give consent to the sexual intercourse committed on her
  by the accused persons. The defence has not led any
  evidence to rebut this presumption. The High Court could
  not have, therefore, held that there were circumstances
  to show that PW-2 had gone on her own and on this
G ground acquitted the respondents. [para 15] [431-D-G]
       1.3. As per the medical evidence, four persons had
  committed rape on the prosecutrix. Explanation 1 to
  s.376(2)(g), IPC, states that where a woman is raped by
  one or more in a group of persons acting in furtherance
H of their common intention, each of the persons shall be
 STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. ROSHAN KHAN & ORS. 421


deemed to have committed gang rape within the meaning          A
of the sub-section. This Court has, therefore, consistently
held that where there are more than one person acting
in furtherance of their common intention of committing
rape on a victim, it is not necessary that the prosecution
should adduce clinching proof of a completed act of rape       B
by each one of the accused on the victim. [para 16) [432-
A-C)
    Om Prakash v. State of Haryana 2011 (7) SCR 1080 =
(2011) 14 SCC 309, Ashok Kumar v. State of Haryana (2003)
2 SCC 143, Bhupinder Sharma v. State of H.P. 2003 (4) C
Suppl. SCR 792 = (2003) 8 SCC 551, Pardeep Kumar v.
Union Admn. 2003 (4) Suppl. SCR 792 = (2006) 10 SCC 608
and Priya Patel v. State of MP. 2006 (3) Suppl. SCR 456 =
(2006) 6 sec 263 - relied on.      ·
     1.4. PW-1, in his evidence, has explained the delay       D
in lodging the FIR. He has stated that after he found his
daughter at about 1.00 a.m. on 28.04.1999 at the place of
occurrence with accused 'A' and after the five other
accused persons had fled, they returned to their house
at 2.00 a.m. and remained at their house till before sunrise   E
and thereafter lodged the FIR at the Police Station. He has
further stated that the delay from 2.00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m. in
lodging the report was on account of the fact that his wife
was sick and he was also frightened and there was no
other person to go to the police station. The SHO, has in
his evidence, stated that on 28.04.1999 the informant          F
appeared in the police station and produced a written
report {Ext.P-1) before him at 6.00 A.M. Thus, the report
(Ext.P-1) was filed by PW-1 at 6.00 a.m. and the period
from 2.00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m. has been sufficiently explained
in his evidence that he could not leave his wife alone until   G
.sunrise. No father would lodge a false complaint that his
daughter has been gang-raped. The High Court should
not have doubted the prosecution story on the ground
of delay in lodging the FIR. [para 17] [432-F-H; 433-A-B,
C-0)                                                           H
    422     SUPREME COURT REPORTS             [2014] 1 S.C.R.


A      1.5. The judgment of the High Court is, thus, contrary
  to the evidence on record and, as such, is set aside. The
  judgment of the trial court convicting the respondents of
  the offences u/ss 366 and 376(2)(g), IPC is restored and
  the sentences imposed for the two offences on the
B respondents by the trial court are maintained. [para 18]
  [433-E-F]

       Ba/want Singh and Others v. State of Punjab (1987) 2
  SCC 27; State of H.P. v. Gian Chand 2001 (3) SCR 247 =
  (2001) 6 SCC 71 Tu/shidas Kanolkar v. State of Goa 2003
C (4) Suppl. SCR 978 = (2003) 8 SCC 590; State of Rajsthan
  v. N.K. 2000 (2) SCR 818 = (2000) 5 SCC 30; and State of
                                                  =
  Rajasthan vs. Shera Ram 2011 (15) SCR 485 (2012) 1
  sec 602 - cited.
D                       Case Law Reference:
          (1987) 2 sec 21             cited         para 6
          2001 (3) SCR 247            cited         para 7
          2003 (4) Suppl. SCR 978     cited         para 7
E
          2000 (2) SCR 818            cited         para 7
          2011 (15) SCR 485           cited         para 9
          2011 (7) SCR 1080           relied on      para 16
F
          (2003) 2 sec 143            relied on     para 16
          2003 (4 ) Suppl. SCR 792    relied on     para 16
          2006 (3 ) Suppl. SCR456     relied on     para 16
G       CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal
    No. 79-80 of 2005.

      Form the Judgment and Order dated 21.11.2003 of the
  High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan at Jodhpur in S.B.
H Criminal Appeal No. 765 & 743 of 2000.
STATE OF RAJA.STHAN v. ROSHAN KHAN & ORS.                   423


     Dr. Manish Singhvi, MG, Amit Lubhaya, Milind Kumar for         A
the Appellant.

   Mukesh Sharma, Rameshwar Prasad Goyal, Siddharth
Dave (A.C.), Jemtiben Ao, for the Respondents.

    The Judgment of the Court was delivered by                      B

    A.K. PATNAIK, J. These are appeals by way of Spice!
Leave under Ariticle 136 of the Constitution against the
judgment dated 21.11.2003 of the Rajasthan High Court
convicting the respondents of the offences punishable under         c
SDection 366 and 376(2)(g) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860
(for short 'IPC')

Facts

      2. The facts very briefly are that on 28.04.1999 Ruliram      D
lodged a complaint at the Bhadra Police Station in District
Hanumangarh, stating as follows: There was a marriage of the
daughter of his brother Gyan Singh for which a feast was
arranged by him on 27.04.1999. His 15-16 years old daughter,
who was slightly weak-minded, disappeared. When she did not         E
return for quite some time, he and others started searching her.
At about 9.00 p.m., a milkman informed him that he had seen
six boys taking away a girl towards Kalyan Bhoomi. About 1.00
a.m. on 28.04.1999, when Ruliram was on a scooter with Gyan
Singh still looking for his daughter, he noticed five boys in the   F
light of the scooter near the old dilapidated office building of
the Sheep and Wool Department and all the five, seeing the
light of the scooter fled. When they went into the old building,
they found Akbar having sexual intercourse with his daughter
and she was shouting. They caught hold of Akbar who later           G
informed them that all the remaining five had also performed
sexual intercourse with his daughter and they knew the
remaining five persons. The police registered a case under
Sections 147 and 376, IPC, and carried out investigation and
                                                                    H
    424     SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2014] 1 S.C.R.


A filed a charge-sheet against the six respondents under Sections
  376/34, IPC, and the case was committed for trial.

         3. In the course of trial before the Additional Sessions
    Judge, Nohar Camp, Bhadra, the prosecution examined as
    many as nine witnesses. Ruliram was examined as PW-1, his
8
    daughter (prosecutrix) was examined as PW-2, and Dr. Ramlal,
    who had medically examined the prosecutrix, was examined as
    PW-7 and the report of the Forensic Science Laboratory was
    marked as Ext.P-39. The Additional Sessions Judge relied on
    the evidence of PW-1, PW-2 and PW-7 and the Ext.P-39 and
C   convicted the six respondents under Section 376(2)(g) and
    Section 366, IPC, by judgment dated 18.11.2000, and after
    hearing them on the question of sentence, sentenced them for
    rigorous imprisonment for ten years each and a fine of
    Rs.5,000/- each, in default a further sentence of two months
D   rigorous imprisonment each for the offence under Section
    376(2)(g), IPC, and rigorous imprisonment for four years each
    and a fine of Rs.3,000/- each, in default a further sentence of
    one month rigorous imprisonment each for the offence under
    Section 366, IPC. The Additional Sessions Judge, however,
E   directed that the sentences for the two offences are to run
    concurrently and upon deposit of fine by the accused persons,
    a compensation of Rs.25,000/- be paid to the prosecutrix.

       4. The respondents filed criminal appeals before the High
F Court and the High Court held in the impugned judgment that
  the deposition of the prosecutrix (P\N-2) was not believable and
  the evidence of Dr. Ram la I (PW-7) did not corroborate the
  prosecution story in some respects. The High Court further held
  that the evidence given by Ruliram (PW-1) that the prosecutrix
G was only aged 14 years cannot be believed and that she could
  be aged up to 19 years and there were circumstances to
  suggest that she went with the respondents on her own. The
  High Court was also of the view that the delay on the part of
  Ruliram (PW-1) to lodge the FIR on 28.04.1999at11.00 a.m.
  when the incident came to his knowledge at 1.00 a.m. cast
H
 STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. ROSHAN KHAN & ORS. 425
              [AK. PATNAIK, J.]

serious doubts on the prosecution case. The High Court                 A
accordingly set aside the judgment of the Additional Sessions
Judge, allowed the appeals and acquitted all the six
respondents of the charges.

Contentions of learned counsel for the parties:                        B
     5. Dr. Manish Singhvi, learned counsel for the State
submitted that the High Court should not have disbelieved the
evidence of PW-1 and PW-2 as there was no enmity between
these witnesses' and the accused persons. He referred to the
evidence of PW-1, PW-2 and PW-7 as well as. FSL report C
(Ext.P-39) to show that a case of gang rape by the six accused
persons had been established beyond reasonable doubt. He
further submitted that the High Court could not have held that
there were circumstances to suggest that the prosecutrix could
have gone on her own with the accused persons. He relied on D
Section 114A of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 which provides
that where sexual intercourse by the accused is proved arid the
question is whether it was without the consent of the woman
alleged to have been raped and she states in her evidence
before the Court that she did not consent, the Court shall E
presume that she did not consent. He submitted that the High
Court has lost sight of this presumption under Section 114A of
the Indian Evidence Act.

     6. Dr. Singhvi next submitted that the High Court should
                                                                       F
not have entertained doubts about the prosecution story on the
ground of delay in lodging the FIR. He submitted that no father
would like to lodge a complaint making a false allegation of
rape of his daughter. He relied on the decision of this Court in
Ba/want Singh and Others v. State of Punjab [(1987) 2 SCC
27] in which a similar contention that the father of the prosecutrix   G
had lodged the FIR on account of previous enmity with the
accused was rejected on the ground that a father of the
proscutrix would not falsely involve his daughter in a case of
rape by the accused.
                                                                       H
    426     SUPREME COURT REPORTS                  [2014] 1 S.C.R.


A      7. Dr. Singhvi finally submitted that the prosecutrix in this
  case was a mentally deficient girl and was vulnerable to sexual
  abuse and, therefore, the High Court should have been sensitive
  while deciding the case. He cited the decisions of this Court
  in State of H.P. v. Gian Chand [(2001) 6 sec 71] as well as
B in Tulshidas Kanolkar v. State of Goa [(2003) 8 SCC 590] in
  support of this submission. He submitted that in the present
  case the trial court had rightly convicted the respondents under
  Sections 366 and 376(2)(g), IPC but the High Court reversed
  the conviction of the respondents and acquitted them of the
c charges. He submitted that on almost similar facts this Court
  in State of Rajsthan v. N.K. [(2000) 5 SCC 30] has set aside
  the judgment of the High Court and restored the conviction of
  the accused persons by the trial court.

       8. In reply, Mr. Mukesh Sharma, learned counsel for
D respondent Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, submitted that Dr. Ramlal
  (PW-7) has not found any injury on the private parts of the
  prosecutrix and that he has found only some marks of eczema.
  He further submitted that PW-1 has only stated that with the help
  of the scooter light, he saw five persons running away but he
E has not been able to properly identify these five persons,
  namely, respondents Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. He submitted that
  as he had only found Akbar (respondent No.5) having sexual
  intercourse with the prosecutrix, no case of gang rape under
  Section 376(2)(g), IPC, is made out.
F
      9. Mr. Sidharth Dave, amicus curiae for respondent No.5,
  submitted that the prosecution story that the prosecutrix was a
  mentally deficient girl has not been proved. He argued that, on
  the contrary, the doctor (PW-7) has opined that the mental
G condition and equilibrium of the prosecutrix were normal. He
  next submitted that the High Court has rightly come to the
  conclusion that the FIR was actually lodged at 11.00 a.m. on
  28.04.1999 and had been ante timed to 6.00 a.m. on
  28.04.1999. He argued that this manipulation casts serious
H doubts on the prosecution story that rape has been committed
 STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. ROSHAN KHAN & ORS. 427
              [A.K. PATNAIK, J.]
on the prosecutrix. He submitted that Dr. Ramlal (PW-7) has            A
found on examination of the prosecutrix that there was one
posterior perinea! tear of the size 1/4" x 1/8" x 1/8" caused within
24 hours and had also given his opinion that this injury may
result from the fall on some hard surface and, therefore, a case
of rape by Akbar had not been established beyond reasonable            B
doubt. He submitted that the view taken by the High Court was
a plausible one on the facts of this case and should not be
interfered with an appeal under Article 136 of the Constitution.
He relied on the judgment of this Court in State of Rajasthan
vs. Shera Ram [(2012) 1 SCC 602] in support of this                    c
submission.

Findings of the Court

      10. We have perused the evidence of informant (PW-1).
He has stated that 28.04.1999 was the date of marriage of D
Manju, the daughter of his brother Gyan, and during dusk time
on 27 .04.1999, his daughter (the prosecutrix), who was 14
years old and not mentally balanced, had gone to call the ladies
of the locality but did not return. He searched the entire village
and thereafter he went on the scooter driven by his brother E
Gyan Singh towards village Rajpura and on the way a milkman
told them that six boys catching the hand of a girl were taking
her towards the cremation ground. They went searching for the
prosecutrix in the cremation ground but did not find her there.
Thereafter, they turned the scooter towards village Motipura and F
they found that five persons were standing in the cluster of
keekar trees near the Bhedia Daftar (an old dilapidated
building) and on seeing them, five persons fled away. When they
went inside the dilapidated building they found that the
prosecutrix was crying and Akbar was lying over her and G
having sexual intercourse with her. PW-1 has also stated that
the five persons who fled away are Roshan, Jangsher, Yakoob,
Shafi and Kadar. He has also said that all the aforesaid six
persons are residents of his Moha/la (locality) and were present
in Court. PW-1 has further stated that by the time they reached H
    428      SUPREME COURT REPORTS                    [2014] 1 S.C.R.


A the Bhed1a Daftar, it was about 1.00 a.m. of 28.04.1999 and
  he took the prosecutrix and Akbar to the Police Station and
  submitted the complaint (Ext.P-1) at 6.00 a.m. of 28.04.1999.

         11 . We have also perused the evidence of prosecutrix
    (PW-2). She has stated that when the marriage of the daughter
8
    of his uncle Gyan was to take place, she had gone out at dusk
    time from her house to call ladies to sing songs and on the way
    she met Akbar who told her that her uncle was looking for her.
    Then she accompanied with Akbar proceeded further and met
    Jangsher near the railway crossing who also told her that her
C   uncle was looking for her. She then started walking and Akbar
    and Jangsher followed her and after some time she found Shafi
    and Yakoob and all the four persons started following her and
    after some time she saw Kadar and Roshan and all the six
    persons took her to a bridge on the road and from there they
D   brought her to the tree of Tali in the field. Thereafter, all the six
    persons made her fall beneath the Tali tree forcibly and
    removed her sa/war, caught hold of her and took her to a
    distance of two-three fields and then to a hut. Then they took
    her to Bhedia Daftar where also they committed sexual
E   intercourse with her and when Akbar was committing rape on
    her, PW-1 and her uncle came and the remaining five persons
    fled away. She has stated that all these six accused persons
    belong to her Mohal/a (locality) and they were present in Court.
    She has also identified six accused persons in Court. She has
F   categorically stated that all the six persons committed rape on
    her without her consent and forcibly.

       12. We have also read the evidence of Dr. Ramlal (PW-
  7) He has stated that he has examined the prosecutrix and
  prepared the medical examination report (Ext.P-15) and he had
G not found any mark of injury on her hidden parts, breast, thighs
  and forearm. He has further stated that her hymen was already
  ruptured and there was one posterior perinea! tear of the size
  1/4" x 1/8" x 1/8" caused within 24 hours. His opinion is that
  prosecutrix was habitual to sexual intercourse and there was
H nothing to suggest that she had not been raped but the vaginal
  STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. ROSHAN KHAN & ORS. 429
               [A.K. PATNAIK, J.]
swab and smear slides could be tested to find out the presence        A
of sperms. PW-7 has also examined all the six accused
persons and also stated that their pants and underwears were
taken into possession and sealed and delivered to the SHO,
Bhadara. The SHO, Bhadara, has been examined as PW-9
and he has stated that he handed over the pieces of medical           B
evidence received from the Medical Officer of Govt. Hospital,
Bhadara to the in-charge of the Malkhana and later on he got
all such evidence in eight packets sent to the FSL, Rajasthan
for test and the FSL, Rajasthan, submitted the test report (Ext. P-
3~.                                                                   c
    · 13. Ext. P-39, which is the report under Section 293,
Cr.P .C. of the FSL, Rajasthan, gives the following descriptions
of the articles and result of examination:

                      "Description of Articles                        D

  Packet Parcel No.         Exhibit No.        Details of exhibits
                            marked by me

       A                    1                  Vaginal Swab
                                                                      E
       "                    2                  Vaginal smear

       B.                   3                  Salwar

       "                    4                  Kameej                 F

       1.                   5                  Pants

       2.                   6                  Pants
       II
                                                                      G
                            7                  Underwear              /


       3.                   8                  Pants

       4.                   9                  Pants
                                                                      H
    430         SUPREME COURT REPORTS              [2014] 1 S.C.R.


A           "                  10                Underwear

            5.                 11                Pants

            "                  12                Underwear
B
            A.                 13                Underwear

                          Result of Examination
          Human semen was detected in exhibit No.1, 2 (from
          packet marked A), 3, 4 (from B), 5 (from 1), 7 (from 2), 8
c         (from 3) & 10 (from 4).
          Semen was not detected in exhibit No.6 (from 2), 9 (from
          4), 11, 12 (from 5) & 13 (from A).
          Exhibit No.1, 2 (from A) have been consumed during the
D         examination.
                                         (Dr. PRABHA SHARMA)"
         14. Thus, the evidence of the prosecutrix (PW-2) is clear
    that all the six respondents, Akbar, Jangsher, Roshan, Yakoob,
E   Kadar and Shafi, committed rape on her without her consent
    and forcibly. This evidence of the prosecutrix (PW-2) is also
    corroborated by the evidence of the informant (PW-1), who had
    himself witnessed Akbar committing rape on the prosecutrix.
    PW-2 had also informed PW-1 soon after the rape by the
    accused persons that not only Akbar but the other five
F   respondents also had forcibly committed rape on her. The
    evidence of PW-1 and PW-2 that all the six respondents had
    committed rape on the prosecutrix is also corroborated by the
    complaint (Ext.P-1) made by PW-1 to the police within a few
    hours of the incident as provided in Section 157 of the Indian
G   Evidence Act. Dr. Ramlal (PW-7) has opined after medically
    examining the prosecutrix that there was nothing to suggest that
    she had not been raped. To confirm whether rape was
    committed on the prosecutrix by the six accused persons, the
    vaginal swab and vaginal smear as well as sa/war and kameej
H   of the prosecutrix and the pants and underwears of the accused
STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. ROSHAN KHAN & ORS.                    431
             [A.K. PATNAIK, J.]
persons were sent by the letter (Ext.P-31) to the FSL,              A
Rajasthan, and as per the report of the FSL, Rajasthan (Ext.P-
39), human semen was detected in the vaginal swab and
vaginal smear (Exts.1 & 2 from packet 'A'), salwar and kameej
of the prosecutrix (Exts.3 & 4 from packet 'B'), two pants (Ext.5
from packet 1, and Ext. 8 from packet 3) and two underwears         B
(Ext.7 from packet 2, and Ext.10 from packet 4). The medical
evidence, therefore, also corroborates the evidence of PW-1
and PW-2 that there was sexual intercourse between the
prosecutrix and the accused persons.

      15. We cannot accept the submission of Mr. Siddharth          C
Dave, learned amicus curiae for respondent No.5 that the
finding given by the High Court that the prosecutrix may have
gone with the accused persons on her own is a plausible one
and should not· be interfered with under Article 136 of the
Constitution. As we have already noticed, the prosecutrix (PW-      D
2) has deposed categorically that all the six persons had raped
her without her consent and forcibly. Section 114A of the Indian
Evidence Act, 1872 clearly provides that in a prosecution for
rape under clause (g) of sub-section (2) of Section 376, IPC,
where sexual intercourse by the accused is proved and the           E
question is whether it was without the consent of the woman
alleged to have been raped and she states in her evidence
before the Court that she did not consent, the Court shall
presume that she did not consent. Since the prosecutrix (PW-
2) has categorically said that sexual intercourse was committed     F
by the accused without her consent and forcibly, the Court has
to draw the presumption that she did not give consent to the
sexual intercourse committed on her by the accused persons.
The defence has not led any evidence to rebut this presumption.
 In our considered opinion, the High Court could not have,          G
therefore, held that there were circumstances to show that PW-
2 had gone on her own and on this ground acquitted the
 respondents.


                                                     ,
     16. From Ext.P-31 read with ExtP-39, it is also. clear that    H
   432      SUPREME COURT REPORTS                 [2014] 1 S.C.R.


A human semen was detected from the pants of Akbar and
  Jangsher and the underwears of Safi and Yakub. As per the
  medical evidence, four persons had committed rape on the
  prosecutrix. Explanation 1 to Section 376(2)(g), IPC, states that
  where a woman is raped by one or more in a group of persons
B acting in furtherance of their common intention, each of the
  persons shall be deemed to have committed gang rape within
  the meaning of the sub-section. This Court has, therefore,
  consistently held that where there are more than one person
  acting in furtherance of their common intention of committing
C rape on a victim, it is not necessary that the prosecution should
  adduce clinching proof of a completed act of rape by each one
  of the accused on the victim. (see Om Prakash v. State of
  Haryana [(2011) 14 SCC 309], Ashok Kumar v. State of
  Haryana [(2003) 2 SCC 143], Bhupinder Sharma v. State of
  H.P. [(2003) 8 SCC 551], Pardeep Kumar v. Union Admn.
D [(2006) 10 SCC 608] and Priya Patel v. State of M.P. [(2006)
  6 sec 263]). Thus, we cannot accept the submissions of Mr.
  Mukesh Sharma, learned counsel for respondent nos.1, 2, 3,
  4 and 6, and Mr. Siddharth Dave, learned amicus curiae for
  respondent No.5, that the medical evidence do not establish a
E case of gang rape under Section 376(2)(g), IPC.

        17. The High Court, however, has considered the delay on
  the part of informant (PW-1) to lodge the FIR as a relevant factor
  to doubt the prosecution story. We find that PW-1 has explained
F the delay in his evidence. He has stated that after he found his
  daughter at about 1.00 a.m. on 28.04.1999 at the Bhedia
  Daftarwith Akbar and after the five other accused persons had
  fled, they returned to their house at 2.00 a.m. and remained at
  their house till before sunrise and thereafter lodged the FIR at
G the Police Station. He has further stated that the delay from 2.00
  a.m. to 6.00 a.m. in lodging the report was on account of the
  fact that his wife was sick and he was also frightened and there
  was no other person to go to the police station. He has also
  stated that he returned home from the police station at about
H 9.00 a.m. The SHO of Bhadara Police Station has in his


               •
STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. ROSHAN KHAN & ORS.                    433
             [A.K. PATNAIK, J.]

evidence stated that on 28.04.1999 the informant appeared in        A
the police station and produced a written report (Ext.P-1) before
him. In cross-examination on behalf of the accused-Roshan,
Shafi and Yakoob, PW-9 has stated that Ext.P-1 was produced
before him at 6.00 a.m. on 28.04.1999. Yet the High Court has
come to the conclusion that the report (Ext.P-1) must have been     B
filed at about 11.15 am. and was ante timed to 6.00 a.m. For
this conclusion, we do not find any evidence, but only a surmise
that Ext.P-1 must have been typed at the court premises after
11.00 a.m. Thus, the report (Ext.P-1) was filed by PW-1 at 6.00
a.m. in the morning reporting an incident that he had witnessed     c
between 1.00 a.m. and 2.00 a.m. on 28.04.1999 and the period
from 2.00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m., in our considered opinion, has
been sufficiently explained by PW-1 in his evidence that he
could not leave his wife alone until sunrise. As has been rightly
submitted by Dr. Singhvi, no father would lodge a false             0
complaint that his daughter has been gang-raped. The High
Court should not have doubted the prosecution story on the
ground of delay in lodging the FIR.

     18. The judgment of the High Court is thus contrary to the
evidence on record and is liable to be set aside. We                E
accordingly set aside the judgment of the High Court acquitting
the respondents and restore the judgment of the trial court
convicting the respondents for the offences under Sections 366
and 376(2){g), IPC, and maintain the sentences imposed for
the two offences on the respondents by the trial court.             F

      19. The appeals are accordingly allowed. The respondents
will be taken into custody forthwith to undergo the remaining
sentence.

R.P.                                          Appeals allowed.      G