Karnataka High Court Acquits Father Accused of Child Sexual Abuse
The Karnataka High Court has confirmed the acquittal of a father who was accused of sexually abusing his young daughter. The case was filed by the man’s wife, Suja Jones Mazurier. A bench of Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar and Justice K S Hemalekha dismissed the appeal and agreed with the trial court’s earlier verdict.
According to the wife’s complaint, her husband Pascal Mazurier allegedly abused their daughter in April 2010, late May 2012, and again on June 13, 2012. At that time, the child was just under 4 years old.
However, the trial court found that there was no strong evidence to prove these claims. It said the accusations may have come from a misunderstanding between the couple. The court also pointed out that the wife used the child’s complaint to stop the husband from leaving the country. She had even approached NGOs and collected documents before going to the police.
The trial court said the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt and declared the father not guilty.
The wife challenged this decision, saying she acted carefully because the accused was her husband. She said her delay in going to the police was to confirm her suspicions, not to create a false case. She also claimed the medical evidence was not fully considered.
The husband argued that the complaint was false and caused by marital problems, especially regarding child custody. He noted the delay in filing the complaint—from 2010 to June 2012—and claimed this raised doubts about the truth of the accusation.
A key point raised was the absence of testimony from Geeta, the family’s maid. Though her statement was recorded, she was not called to testify. The court said this missing testimony was important, as it could have supported or dismissed the abuse claims.
The High Court also found inconsistencies in the victim’s statements. It noted the child said she was coached by her mother and promised treats like chocolates and a picnic for saying certain things in court.
Independent doctors who examined the child did not find clear signs of sexual abuse. Some marks were noticed, but they were not enough to confirm abuse.
The court said the wife met with several NGOs, doctors, and legal professionals before the final complaint was filed. This preparation suggested she was planning legal action for some time, rather than responding immediately to a fresh incident.
The High Court ruled that the trial court was right to question the reliability of the evidence. It said the prosecution failed to present independent, strong proof and the case seemed to be built on emotional and personal conflict. As a result, the acquittal of the father stands.
Case Details:
- Case Title: Ms. Suja Jones Mazurier vs. State of Karnataka & Another
- Case Number: Criminal Appeal No. 1050 of 2017
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