A man has been acquitted of the charges of sexually assaulting his 17-year-old daughter by a Delhi Court after the alleged victim admitted having lodged a false case out of "anger and revolt" as she had strained relations with her step mother.
Additional Sessions Judge Gautam Manan absolved the man, a Delhi resident, of the charges of sexual harassment under section 354A of IPC and sexual assault under section 10 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as the girl failed to support the prosecution case.
"The girl testified that the accused did not assault he....As her step mother used to scold and beat her, out of anger and revolt, she lodged a complaint against her father," the judge said.
"In view of the discussions, it is held that allegations against the accused are not proved. Accordingly, he stands acquitted of the offences," the court said.
According to the prosecution, the girl had alleged that on March 24, 2014, when she was alone at home, her father sexually assaulted her after which she punched and kicked him in retaliation.
She then informed her brother, sister and a neighbour, who then called the police, it said, adding that an FIR was lodged against him and he was arrested.
However, the court acquitted the man after the girl and the prosecution witnesses, including her siblings and the neighbour, resiled from the statement and denied all the allegations.
During the trial the accused had claimed that he was falsely implicated by the girl.
