Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Intellectually Disabled Minor Girl Acquitted: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India has acquitted Charming Rupon in a sexual assault case involving a minor with intellectual disability, setting aside his conviction and sentence after finding serious doubts in the prosecution’s evidence.

A trial court in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, had convicted Rupon under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act), on December 7, 2021. He was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 1 lakh. The Meghalaya High Court dismissed his appeal on March 29, 2022, prompting him to approach the Supreme Court.

The case concerned allegations of sexual assault on May 28, 2015. The complaint was filed by the child’s mother at Khliehriat Police Station on June 8, 2015.

What the court found

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta examined the evidence and found significant inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case. The court noted that the child and her cousin could not identify Rupon during their testimony. Both also stated that the child’s mother had told them the accused’s name.

The court raised concerns about the delay in filing the police complaint and the failure to examine the schoolteacher, Ms. Princely, who was said to have received the child’s disclosure before the complaint was filed.

It also noted that the child’s mother had not acted immediately after her niece reportedly informed her of the allegation. The court found contradictions in the witnesses’ accounts of Rupon’s relationship with the family. It further observed that the defence had produced credible evidence supporting his claim that he was in another village in connection with a property transaction.

The judgment stressed the need for the prosecution to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

“The prosecution has failed to establish the guilt of the accused-appellant beyond reasonable doubt.”

Final decision

The Supreme Court held that the evidence was not strong enough to sustain the conviction. It ruled that the lower courts had erred in relying on the witnesses’ testimony and that Rupon was entitled to the benefit of doubt.

The court set aside both the trial court’s conviction and sentence and the High Court’s judgment. It allowed the appeal and ordered that Rupon be released forthwith if he was not wanted in any other case.

Case Details

Case Title: Charming Rupon vs State of Meghalaya

Case Number: Criminal Appeal arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 11881 of 2022

Judge or Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta

Decision Date: October 9, 2026