Accused Under Section 376 IPC Rape Can Be Convicted Under Section 354 Even Without Specific Charge: Kerala High Court

Kerala High Court reaffirmed that a person charged with rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) can still be lawfully convicted under Section 354 IPC for assaulting a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, even if there was no specific charge framed under Section 354. The court ruled this in a recent decision where the accused challenged his conviction under Section 354 IPC after being acquitted…