A court in Maharashtra`s Thane district acquitted a 21-year-old man accused of raping a woman on the promise of marriage in 2016, citing inconsistencies in her testimony and lack of corroborating evidence, reported news agency PTI.

Additional Sessions Judge D S Deshmukh acquitted Vijay Dinesh Mishra, who was booked on the charges of rape, assault, cheating, and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code, reported PTI.

A copy of the order passed on September 2 was made available on Monday.

As per the case registered in October 2016, the accused allegedly repeatedly raped the complainant under the pretext of marriage, physically assaulted her, and cheated her of Rs 6.4 lakh, reported PTI.

The prosecution examined four witnesses, including the complainant and her father, during the seven-year trial.

The judge noted a contradiction in the woman`s testimony in court and her initial FIR.

The court pointed out that the long delay in reporting the alleged assaults, which began in January 2016, suggested a consensual relationship.

“Her silence creates doubt about her version that she was repeatedly raped by the accused,” it stated, reported PTI.

A chemical analysis report found human blood on the woman`s clothes, but the prosecution failed to provide evidence linking the blood to the accused, the court noted.

The defence argued that the complaint against the accused was lodged due to a financial dispute.

The court also noted that the woman admitted to having quarrelled with the accused and their families, leading to the filing of cross-complaints, reported PTI.

The judge also pointed out that the woman and her father had admitted to a settlement deed and receiving money from the accused.

The court concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove the accused`s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, reported PTI.

Man awarded Rs 15 lakh in motor accident claim

Meanwhile, a man who was paralysed in a road accident in 2015 has been awarded Rs 15.10 lakh in compensation by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane, which held the owner and insurer of the container truck liable for the payment, reported PTI.

MACT member R V Mohite, in an order passed on September 2, noted that all injuries or permanent disabilities arising from injuries do not result in the loss of earning capacity, and assessed the functional disability of the victim at 15 per cent. The order was made available on Monday.

(With inputs from PTI)

This article first appeared on Mid Day