Delhi High Court Upholds Father-in-Law’s Rape Conviction; Reduces Seven-Year Sentence to Period Undergone Considering His Age, Victim’s Stand and Long Passage of Time
Delhi High Court Upholds Father-in-Law’s Rape Conviction; Holds Advanced Age, Victim’s Stand and Passage of Time Cumulatively Justify Reduced Sentence
he offence dated back to 28 November 2009, and the prosecutrix herself, accompanied by her father and counsel, appeared before the High Court and expressly stated that she did not wish to pursue the matter and that the appellant could be released.
Importantly, the Court did not treat any one of these circumstances as sufficient by itself. Rather, their cumulative effect constituted the “adequate and special reasons” required for departure from the statutory minimum applicable to the offence.
The Court additionally considered the absence of adverse antecedents, the nearly two decades spent in legal proceedings and the practical consequences of incarcerating an 88-year-old person.
Conclusion
The Delhi High Court refused to interfere with Ramendra Singh’s conviction under Sections 376 and 506 IPC.
However, considering cumulatively:
- his advanced age of approximately 88 years;
- the considerable passage of time since the 2009 incident;
- absence of adverse antecedents; and
- the prosecutrix’s express statement that she did not wish to pursue the matter and wanted the appellant released,
the Court found “adequate and special reasons” to reduce the punishment below the statutory minimum.
Accordingly, while upholding the conviction, the Court reduced the sentence to the period of custody already undergone. The appeal was disposed of and the bail bonds were discharged.
Case Details
Case: Ramendra Singh v. State
Court: High Court of Delhi at New Delhi
Case Number: CRL.A. 726/2011; CNR No. DLHC010198452011
Judge: Justice Vimal Kumar Yadav
Date: 14 August 2026
Result: Conviction under Sections 376 and 506 IPC upheld; sentence reduced to period already undergone; appeal disposed of and bail bonds discharged.
