A Delhi court has refused to discharge a pilot accused of raping and having unnatural sex with a senior crew member, saying that prima facie material is available to frame charges against him.
The woman alleged that the pilot had established physical relations with her after promising to marry her. Countering her allegations, the accused, through his counsel, submitted that the woman was already married at the time of the alleged incident and, therefore, knew that she was not free for marriage.
The public prosecutor in the case argued that the victim had also levelled charges of unnatural sex. She also stated in her complaint that the pilot used his authority to obtain sexual favours.
The facts of the cases cited by counsel for the accused for his discharge could not be applied to the present case “since a specific allegation of unnatural sex has been levelled against the accused for which consent cannot be a ground of discharge,” the court said.
“Further, yhe prosecutrix is stating that the accused used his authority to force her into physical relationship. Keeping the allegation of promise of marriage aside, there is prima facie material available to frame charges against the accused,” the court added.
