On Thursday, a fast track court convicted a judicial officer for rape and cheating a woman who had sought legal help from him in 2018.
“The conclusion that emerges from the discussion is that all the evidence on record unerringly points toward the guilt of the accused,” Khalil Choudhary, Presiding Officer Fast Track Court Jammu, said while holding a sub-judge Rakesh Kumar Abrol guilty of raping and cheating a woman on the pretext of providing her legal help.
“There is a complete chain of events and facts to indicate that within all human probability, the crime was committed by the accused (Abrol), and all the circumstances brought on record and established are consistent with the guilt of (Abrol) and inconsistent with his innocence,” Choudhary observed.
While convicting Abrol for the offences under section 420 (cheating) and 376 (rape), the court posted the quantum of sentence will on Saturday.
The court further observed: “Persons of influence, keeping in view their reach, impact and authority they wield on the general public or the specific class to which they belong owe a duty and have to be more responsible they are expected to know and perceive the meaning of authority and law with experience and knowledge. It is reasonable to hold that they would be careful in their lives the reasonable man’s test would always be considered the maker.”
As per the prosecution, the victim woman, a resident of Ramban, met Abrol of Lower Roop Nagar Jammu while contesting a case. Being a judicial officer, Abrol promised legal help and sought domestic support from her. Having a minor girl to support, the woman started working in the house of sub-judge, who also promised better education to her daughter. The accused promised her to pay Rs 5000 per month as salary, the prosecution said.
For seeking legal support, the accused dissolved her marriage with her husband by getting a notarised divorce deed, and the accused told one of his PSOs to witness it. After some time, the woman’s parents decided to work with Abrol as they wanted to take her to their home.
“As and when (Abrol) got knowledge that she is going to leave his home, he requested her not to leave his home and filled “Maang” with “Babuti” and told her that “she is his wife now”,” the prosecution. “He also told her that he had parted with his wife and been residing alone for last seven years.”
Abrol also told her that he is a judge and has knowledge about the legalities, after which she believed him and married him, the prosecution said.
“By doing so, the accused secured her consent to have sexual intercourse with her. Unfortunately, she succumbed to his pressure and did not share the same with anyone around,” the prosecution said.
“The accused planned to have “Saptapadi” with her, and he solemnised marriage with her in his house at Roop Nagar in the presence of PSO Ashok Jamwal, his friend Darshan Gupta and one Pandit belonging from Doda called by Abrol.”
As per the prosecution, after one year of marriage with Abrol, the woman realised that he had betrayed her by marrying her while married to his second wife, namely Neetu Bala, as he had already divorced his first wife named Surbhi.
