HC suspends man's sentence in rape case noting girl misrepresented her age, eloped voluntarily

New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has suspended the sentence of a man, who was convicted for raping a minor, noting that the girl had voluntarily gone with him by misrepresenting herself to be a major.

Justice Jasmeet Singh noted in an order on Friday that the girl was 17 years and four months old when she eloped with the man and, thereafter, they had a child who is in the care and custody of the prosecutrix.

The high court, which was hearing an appeal filed by the man challenging his conviction and 12 years' imprisonment, said to uphold the trial court judgment or to set it aside would require detailed hearing and appreciation of facts which shall be taken up when the appeal is finally heard.