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THANE:A 23-year-old man, who spent over three months in jail, was acquitted of all charges of raping and kidnapping a minor girl by a Special Court in Thane. This decision came after the 16-year-old complainant testified that she willingly married him and was now living happily with him. The case dates back to October 18, 2021, when the mother of the then-16-year-old girl filed a missing person complaint. The police initially registered an offence against an unknown person under kidnapping of the Indian Penal Code.On October 30, 2021, nearly two weeks after the complaint was filed, the accused brought the girl to a local police station. According to the prosecutor, the girl later disclosed that she was in a relationship with the accused for two years prior to the incident. She stated that on the day she went missing. Following these revelations, the police added more serious charges, including Sections 366-A (procuration of minor girl), 376(3) and 376(2)(n) (rape) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as various sections of the POCSO Act. During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence, including the victim’s birth certificate, which confirmed she was 16 years and approximately 3 months old at the time of the incident. However, in court, the victim did not support the prosecution’s case. She testified that she married the accused of her own free will and was now living happily with him. She further stated that they now have a daughter born out of their marriage. The victim admitted that their physical relations were with her consent and that she had “knowledge of every right and wrong thing” at that time.