Victim testimony plus medical and circumstantial corroboration can sustain a rape conviction even without injuries or eyewitnesses.

A truthful victim's testimony, corroborated by prompt reporting, medical evidence and surrounding circumstances, can sustain a rape conviction even without injuries on either side or independent eyewitness proof. The absence of physical injuries did not, by itself, discredit the prosecution case where resistance was curtailed and the evidence remained consistent. An appellate court may reappreciate the record and reverse an acquittal where the trial court's view is perverse and results in miscarriage of justice. The conviction and sentence were sustained.

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Issues: Whether the conviction for rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, based on the victim's testimony supported by surrounding circumstances and medical evidence, was justified.

Analysis: The victim's version was found trustworthy and consistent with the prompt report, medical examination, and other corroborative material. The absence of injuries on the victim or on the accused did not discredit the prosecution case, since resistance was shown to have been curtailed and no inflexible rule requires physical injuries or independent corroboration in every case. The appellate court was entitled to reappreciate the evidence and reverse the acquittal where the trial court's view was found perverse and leading to miscarriage of justice.

Conclusion: The conviction under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code was upheld and the challenge to it failed.

Final Conclusion: The appeal was rejected and the conviction and sentence recorded by the High Court were sustained.

Ratio Decidendi: In a rape prosecution, a truthful victim's evidence, when supported by medical and circumstantial corroboration, can sustain conviction even without independent eyewitness proof or injuries, and an appellate court may interfere with an acquittal where the trial court's view is perverse.

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