In a significant ruling, a Chennai court has awarded Rs 15 lakh as compensation to Santhosh, a man who was falsely accused of rape and endured a lengthy legal battle that lasted over seven years. The case stemmed from a false allegation made by a woman, which led to his wrongful arrest and a trial that deeply affected his life.
Santhosh, a college student at the time, was accused of impregnating the woman, leading to his arrest and 95 days in judicial custody. However, a DNA test later proved that he was not the father of the child she gave birth to. Following this, Santhosh filed a compensation claim for Rs 30 lakh, stating that the false accusation had damaged his career and personal life. The court, while partially accepting his plea, ordered the woman and her parents, who had filed the false complaint, to pay Rs 15 lakh as compensation.
Santhosh’s lawyer, A. Sirajudeen, explained that the two families had once been neighbors. After Santhosh and his family moved to a different area in Chennai, the woman’s mother approached his parents, claiming that Santhosh had impregnated her daughter and demanded a marriage arrangement. When Santhosh denied any relationship, the woman and her parents filed a rape complaint.
Santhosh was arrested and later released on bail in February 2010. By that time, the woman had already delivered a child. A DNA test confirmed that Santhosh was not the biological father, and in 2016, a mahila court in Chennai acquitted him of all charges.
Santhosh revealed that the false accusation had not only cost him Rs 2 lakh in legal fees, but it also severely affected his prospects. He couldn’t even obtain a commercial driving license and had to take up a low-paying job as an office assistant.
The Chennai court’s decision to award compensation offers some relief to Santhosh, who had been unfairly dragged through the legal system for years due to the false accusations.
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