Holding

A conviction for rape under Section 376 IPC is justified where the victim's testimony is consistent and credible, corroborated by eyewitness evidence, and even minimal penetration suffices irrespective of hymen status.

Summary

The appellant, Wahid Khan, was convicted under Section 376 of the IPC for raping a 12‑year‑old girl, while being acquitted of Section 366. The prosecution relied on the consistent testimony of the victim, an FIR lodged immediately after the incident, and the eyewitness account of a police sub‑inspector who caught the accused red‑handed. The defence argued that the victim's intact hymen and the non‑examination of the doctor indicated no intercourse, seeking acquittal. The Supreme Court held that even slight penetration suffices for rape, that the victim's testimony was credible and corroborated by the police officer, and that lack of medical corroboration does not defeat the prosecution. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and the conviction under Section 376 upheld.

Issues considered

Whether the victim's testimony, without medical corroboration, is sufficient to sustain a conviction for rape under Section 376 IPC.
Whether an intact hymen negates the occurrence of rape under the legal definition of penetration.
Whether corroboration of the victim's evidence is a sine qua non for conviction in rape cases.

Legislation cited

Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 342, s. 354, s. 366, s. 375, s. 376

Subjects

rapeminorcorroborationmedical evidencehymenpenetrationIPCSection 376Section 366evidentiary standardssexual assaultcriminal appeal

Judgment

·'
(2009) 15 (ADDL.) S.C.R. 1207

WAHID KHAN A
v.
" STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
(Criminal Appeal No. 1798 of 2008)
19:' DECEMBER 01, 2009 B
[J.M. PANCHAL AND DEEPAK VERMA, JJ.]

. Penal Code, 1860 - ss. 366 and 376 - Rape on 12 years
,.\_ old girl - Prosecution for - FIR lodged by prosecutrix
immediately after the incident - A police official who found c
the accused red-handed, corroborating the evidence of
prosecutrix - Medical report showing no rupture of hymen -
Non-examination of doctor who examined the prosecutrix -
,. Conviction uls. 376 and acquittal u/s. 366 by Courts below -
ii
On appeal, Held: Accused liable to be convicted - Evidence D
t- of prosecutrix is consistent and corroborated by evidence of
police officer - Non-examination of doctor not fatal - Ev~n if
hymen was not ruptured, the act of accused could constitute
offence of rape - To make out an offence of rape, depth of
penetration is immaterial. E
Evidence - Corroboration - In rape cases - Need for -
Evidentiary value of prosecutrix - Held: In rape cases
( 7'
testimony of prosecutrix stands at par with that of an injured
eye-witness - Corroboration is not a sine qua non for
F
conviction in a rape case - If evidence of prosecutrix inspires
confidence, it needs no corroboration.

-- Appellant-accused was prosecuted u/ss. 366 and
-375 IPC for committing rape of a minor girl. Co-accused
was also prosecuted u/ss. 342 and 366 IPC. Trial Court G
acquitted the co-accused of all the charges. Appellant-
-~
accused was convicted u/s. 376 and acquitted of charges
u/s. 366. High Court confirmed the order: of trial court.
Hence the present appeal.
1207 H
1208 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009) 15 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A · Dismissing the appeal, the Court >- _,
HELD: 1.1. The version of the prosecutrix right from
lodging of the FIR, till her examination by the doctor and
till she deposed in court, had been absolutely consistent.
B Not only this, to corroborate further, the evidence of P.W.3
is also on record who had caught the appellant red-
handed which fully establishes that it was the appellant
who had committed offence of rape. [Para 30] [1217-E-F]
).
Radhu v. State of Madhya Pradesh (2007) 12 SCC 57,
c distinguished.

1.2. Even if doctor had not been examined, it would
not throw or completely discard the prosecution story.
The evidence of, prosecution witnesses is fully
D trustworthy and there is no reason to doubt genuineness
thereof. Corroboration is not the sine qua non for 4
conviction in a rape case. In the instant case, even
without the examination of doctor, the evidence of
prosecutrix stands fully corroborated by the evidence of
E P.W.3, Sub-inspector of the Police Station who had
virtually caught the appellant red-handed. [Paras 19 and
23] [1214-E-F; 1215-E-F]

Rameshwar v. State of Rajasthan AIR 1952 SC 54, relied ~

on.
F
1.3. It is also a matter of common law that in Indian
society any girl or woman would not make such

G
allegations against a person as she is fully aware of the
repercussions flowing therefrom. If she is found to be
false, she would be looked by the society with contempt
-
throughout her life. For an unmarried girl, it will be difficult
to find a suitable groom. Therefore, uniess an offence has y-
really been committed, a girl or a woman would be
extremely reluctant even to admit that any such incident
H had taken place which is likely to reflect on her chastity.
I
WAHID KHAN v. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH 1209

She would also be conscious of the danger of being A
ostracized by the society. Thus, in a case of rape,
- .,. testimony of a prosecutrix stands at par with that of an
injured witness. It is really not necessary to insist for
corroboration if the evidence of the prosecutrix inspires
confidence and appears to be credible. [Paras 21 and 22) B
[1215-8-D]

2. It is not correct to say that since hymen of the
prosecutrix was found to be intact, offence of rape
cannot be said to have been committed on her by the C
appellant. Even a slightest penetration is sufficient to
make out an offence of rape and depth of penetration is
immaterial. Hence, the act of the appellant would certainly
constitute an offence of rape. [Paras 24, 25 and 28] [1215-
G-H; 1216-A-B; 1217-A-B]
D
'Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology' by Modi (Twenty
+ SecondEdition) p. 495; Parikh's Textbook of Medical
Jurisprudence andToxicology, 'sexual intercourse, referred
to.
E
Case Law Reference:
AIR 1952 SC 54 relied on Para 20
(2001) 12 sec 57 distinguished Para 29
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal F
No. 1798 of 2008.

From the J~dgment & Order dated 29.9.2006 of the High
Court of Madhya Pradesh in Criminal Appeal No. 548of1991.

Fakruddin, Fizahi Hussain, Aftab Ali Khan, Karim Ansari, G
Rajkishore Chaudhary, R.C. Kaushik for the Appellant.

Siddhartha Dave, Jemtiben AO, Vibha Datta Makhija for
the Respondent.
H
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
1210 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 15 (ADQL.) S.C.R.

A DEEPAK VERMA, J. 1. A minor girl aged about 12 years
was subjected to rape by the appellant on 14th October 1988.
The appellant was charged and prosecuted for commission of ),.. -
offence under Sections 366 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code
(for short, 'IPC') and the co-accused Sneh Lata was charged
B under Sections 342 and 366, IPC in the Court of Ill Additional
Sessions Judge, Bhopal in Sessions Case No.53/89.

2. Judgment was pronounced in the said Sessions Case
on 17th May 1991 wherein and whereby co-accused Sneh Lata
was acquitted of the charges levelled against her, but the
c appellant was found guilty of commission of offence under )._
Section 376, IPC. and was awarded seven years' rigorous
imprisonment. Insofar as the chargeflevelled against him under
Section 366 was concerned. he was acquitted by the said court.
D 3. Feeling aggrieved by the said judgment of conviction,
appellant preferred Criminal Appeal No.548 of 1991 in the High
·~
Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur. Learned Single Judge,
after considering the matter from all angles, came to the
-+
conclusion that the findings recorded by the learned Sessions
E Judge were based on material evidence available on record,
thus, proceeded to confirm the findings of guilt as also the
punishment awarded to him by judgment dated 29th September
2006.

4. It is against this judgment, the present criminal appeal
F
by special leave has been preferred by him. .),
' 1

5. Facts, which are in short compass, are mentioned
herein below.

G 6. Although the prosecutrix-P.W.1 was resident of
Gadarwara, she had come to Bhopal about four ..• onths prior
to the date of occurrence. In Bhopal, sht: was staying with her
relative. She had gone to an Ayurvedic Hospital for treatment
where she came in contact with acquitted co-accused Sneh
H Lata, who showered love and affection on her. Thus, she was
WAHID KHAN v. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH 1211
~ [DEEPAK VERMA, J.]
allured by Sneh Lata and went to stay with her. The record A
.;, shows that she was kept in wrongful confinement at her house .
'
She used to be beaten up and was not allowed to leave the
house. Many boys and girls used to visit the said house of Sneh
Lata.
~ ' B
7. On 14th October 1988, she gave Rs.10/- to the
prosecutrix, with which the prosecutrix went to Bhopal Talkies
to watch the matinee show. After the movie, when she came
out of the theatre, she found a few boys standing there who
~
started teasing her. In the meanwhile, the appellant-accused
Wahid came there in his auto who voluntarily offered to help
c
~
her. She requested him to drop her to her relative's place but
instead of taking her to the house of relative of the prosecutrix,
he proceeded towards airport via Lal Ghati. She tried to stop

• +
the accused from proceeding in the wrong direction, but, he
continued to ply the auto-rickshaw. In the darkness, near D
bushes he stopped the auto and used filthy language against
her. He also threatened to kill her if she raised hue and cry.
After gagging her mouth, he took her to the nearby bushes and
removed her under-garments. He also removed his pants and
under-garments and committed rape on her. At that very point ~
of time, some sharp light came followed by two police personnel
I
, coming there and catching him red-handed while performing
intercourse with the prosecutrix.
·7'
8. Both of them were taken to the Bairagarh Police Station F
=t where FIR (Exh. P-1) was lodged by the prosecutrix. She was
sent for her medical examination and accused was also sent
for his medical examination.

9. After usual investigation, chargesheet was filed against
appellant and co-accused Sneh Lata for commission of G
offences as mentioned hereinabove for which they were tried
- '{ and upon completion of trial, the appellant was found guilty for
commission of offence under Section 376 of the IPC.

10. The conviction of the appellant is founded on the H
1212 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 15 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A evidence of P.W.1-prosecutrix as also the evidence of P.W.3-
B.B.- Subba Rao, Sub-inspector who had caught him red-
handed while he was committing rape. Medical report dated
.\- -
15th October 1988 of the prosecutrix is on record. It records
that her hymen was found to be in tact whereas her private part
B admitted only tip of little finger with difficulty. In the opinion of
Dr. B. Biswas who had examined her, no intercourse was done
with her. But, for determination of her age, she was sent to
Forensic Department of Hamidia Hospital. Dr. B. Biswas has
not been examined by the prosecution.
c 11. At the time of medical examination of the prosecutrix,
k

her medical history was recorded, marked at Exh.P-9 which
categorically records the manner in which the appellant had
committed rape on her.

D 12. P. W .1-prosecutrix had initially not supported
prosecution case and was declared hostile. But, on being
confronted with her statement recorded under Section 161, +
Code of Criminal Procedure, she narrated the true and correct
story and the manner in which rape was committed on her. She
E has categorically deposed that the appellant removed her
underwear, lied on her, put his male organ into her private part
and was moving up and down. According to her, he committed
bad act with her. It is mentioned by her that on account of raµe
having been committed by the appellant, she was not being
..
~
F called by her parents. She has also proved her FIR which was
recorded on 14th October 1988.

13. To corroborate the evidence of prosecutrix, prosecution
has examined 1.0. (P.W..3-8.B. Subba Rao), Sub-inso-:dor of
Police Station Bairagarh. According to him, on 14tli October
G 1988 he was on field duty with regard to invesi;~dtion of some
other case and he received an informc.tion that an auto driver
was going in an auto at about 3 O'clock in the evening with a ,,,__
girl towards airport road. According to him, on search, auto was
found in abandoned condition on a secluded road. The police
H officer has stated that he suspected some foul-play and went

I
-if

-f
WAHID KHAN v. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH 1213
[DEEPAK VERMA, J.]
in search of the owner of the same. What is mentioned by him A
.. .. is that near the bushes, he found the auto-rickshaw parked by
the side of the road and appellant committing rape on the
prosecutrix. According to him, the appellant was caught red-
handed.
~
( B
-t 14. In his cross-examination conducted by learned counsel
' for the appellant, which is more suicidal, he has deposed that
both of them were found to be in compromising position and
were naked below the waist. It is mentioned by him that the
appellant was lying on the prosecutrix and was indulging in
sexual intercourse and he had seen the incident in the light of
c
the vehicle in which he was travelling. According to him, the site
of incident was 2-3 furlongs away from the main road and as
soon as the appellant was caught, stood up and was found in
a perplexed condition. He has further stated that they thereafter
put on their clothes and were brought to the police station, D
where FIR was lodged by the prosecutrix. According to him, his
auto-rickshaw was seized on the same day and he was
apprehended on next day.

15. Perusal of the record would show that Exh.P-1 (FIR) E
was lodged by the prosecutrix herself on the date of the incident
on 14th October 1988 at the police station soon after the
incident. When she was sent for medical examination, she,
~ again narrated rape on her by the appellant before the medical
(
officer which finds place in her medical report Exh.P-9. Thus, F
the testimony of the prosecutrix stands corroborated by her FIR.
and contents of Exh.P-9. To further corroborate aforesaid
evidence, the statement of P.W.3-B.B. Subba Rao fully
establishes that it was Wahid Khan who had committed rape
on the prosecutrix. As mentioned hereinabove, whatever little
G
lacunae was there in the prosecution story, has been cured in
his cross-examination.
_, -f
16. Cumulative reading of the aforesaid would prove
beyond shadow ,of doubt that it was the appellant who had
H
1214 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 15 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A committed 'offence of rape on· minor girl and had completely
ravished her. .i.. -

17. Shri Fakhruddin, learned senior counsel ·appearing for
the appellant strenuously contended before us that keeping in
mind the medical report of the prosecutrix reflecting her hymen r
B
was still in-tact, would be indicative of the fact that no intercourse
was at all committed on her. According to him, looking to the
totality of the facts and features of the case and the evidence
available on record, at best, it would establish a case wherein
the appellant could have been convicted only under Section 354
c of IPC but no case was~ made out for his conviction under
Section 376 thereof.

18. On the other hand, Shri Sidhartha Dave, learned
counsel appearing along with Ms. Vibha Datta Makhija fo~ the .
D respondent-State contended that even if full penetration had not
been there, slight penetration itself is sufficient and would -4
complete the offence of rape as contemplated under Section
375 of the IPC and thus both the courts below were justified in
finding him guilty under Section 376 of IPC and awarding him
E punishment accordingly.
19. The law on the point is now too well settled. No doubt,
it is true that Dr. 8. Biswas, who had initially conducted the
medical examination of the prosecutrix, has not appeared on
\-
behalf of the prosecution to depose. But, that alone is not
F sufficient to discard the prosecution story. Corroboration is not
the sine qua non for conviction in a rape case.

20. In this regard, the most celebrated observations of
Justice Vivian Bose in the case of Rameshwar v. State of
G Rajasthan AIR 1952 SC 54 may be quoted :
"The rule, which according to the cases has hardened
into one of law, is not that corroboration is essential before
there can be a conviction but that the necessity of
corroboration, as a matter of prudence, except where the
H
WAHID KHAN v. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH 1215
[DEEPAK VERMA, J.]

circumstances make it safe to dispense with it, must be A
present to the mind of the judge .... "

21. It is also a matter of common law that in Indian society
any girl or woman would not make such allegaUbns against a
person as she is fully aware of the repercussions flowing B
therefrom. If she is found to be false, she woul,d be looked by
the society with contempt throughout he'r life. For I
an unmarried
girl, it will be difficult to find a suitable groom. Therefore, unless
an offence has really been committed, a girl or a woman would
he extremely reluctant even to admit that any such incident had C
taken place which is likely to reflect on her chastity. She would
also be conscious of the danger of being ostracized by the
society. It would indeed be difficult for her to survive in Indian
society which is, of course, not as forward looking as the
western countries are.
D
22. Thus, in a case of rape, testimony of a prosecutrix
stands at par with that of an injured witness. It is really not
necessary to insist for corroboration if the evidence of the
prosecutrix inspires confidence and appears to be credible.
E
23. However, in the case in hand, even without the
examination of doctor, the evidence of prosecutrix stands fully
corroborated by the evidence of P.W.3-8.B. Subba Rao, Sub-
inspector of the police station who had virtually caught the
appellant red-handed. Thus, even if doctor had not been F
examined it would not throw or completely discard the
prosecution story. The evidence of prosecution witnesses is fully
trustworthy and there is no reason to doubt genuineness
thereof.

24. It was also contended by learned counsel for the G
appellant that since hymen of the prosecutrix was found to be
in tact, therefore, it cannot be said that an offence of rape was
committed on her by the appellant. This contention cannot be
accepted as offence of rape has been defined in Section 375
of the IPC. Explanation to Section 375 reads thus : H
..___

1216 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 15 (ADDL.) S.C.R.
r-
A "Explanation. - Penetration is sufficient to constitute the
sexual intercourse necessary to the offence of rape."
~ -

25. It has been a consistent view of this Court that even a
slightest penetration is sufficient to make out an offence of rape
~

B and depth of penetration is immaterial. ,...
26. It is appropriate in this context to reproduce the opinion
expressed by Modi in Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology
(Twenty Second Edition) at page 495 which reads thus :

c "Thus, to constitute the offence of rape, it is not
necessary that there should be complete penetration of
~
penis with emission of semen and rupture of hymen. Partial
penetration of the penis within the Labia majora or the vulva
or pudenda with or without emission of semen or even an
D attempt at penetration is quite sufficient for the purpose of
the law. It is therefore quite possible to commit legally, the
offence of rape without producing any injury to the genitals
or leaving any seminal stains. In such a case, the medical
officer should mention the negative facts in his report, but
E should not give his opinion that no rape had been
committed. Rape is crime and not a medical condition.
Rape is a legal term and not a diagnosis to be made by
the medical officer treating the victim. The only statement
that can be made by the medical officer is to the effect
whether there is evidence of recent sexual activity.
F
Whether the rape has occurred or not is a legal
conclusion, not a medical one."

[Emphasis supplied]

G 27. Similarly in Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence
and Toxicology, 'sexual intercourse' has been defined as under:

"Sexual intercourse.- In law, this term is held to mean the Y-
slightest degree of penetration of the vulva by the penis
with or without emission of semen. It is therefore quite
H possible to commit legally the offence of rape without
WAHID KHAN v. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH 1217
[DEEPAK VERMA, J.]
producing any injury to the genitals or leaving any seminal A
stains."

28. If the aforesaid facts are kept in mind, it cannot be
disputed that the act of the appellant would certainly constitute
an offence of rape and leaves no amount of doubt in our mind. 8
29. Learned counsel for the appellant placed reliance on
a recent judgment of this Court reported in (2007) 12 SCC 57
Radhu v. State of Madhya Pradesh to contend that since
evidence of prosecutrix was not corroborated, the appellant
should be extended benefit of doubt. Even after going through C
the said judgment critically we do not find that any benefit can
be extended to the appellant. In the said case, there were
several serious discrepancies in the evidence of the prosecutrix
which prompted the Court to call for corroboration. In the
present case, there is consistency in the evidence of D
prosecutrix, which stands corroborated by the evidence of
P.W.3-8.B. Subba Rao. He had no axe to grind against the
appellant.

30. In this case, the version of the prosecutrix right from E
lodging of the FIR, till her examination by the doctor and till she
deposed in court, had been absolutely consistent. Not only this,
to corroborate further, the evidence of P.W.3-B.B. Subba Rao
is also on record who had caught the appellant red-handed
which fully establishes that it was the appellant who had
committed offence of rape. F

31. Thus, looking to the matter from all angles, we are of
the opinion that there is no merit or substance in this appeal.
The same is accordingly hereby dismissed.
G
K.K.T. Appeal dismissed.