Man accused in Pocso case involving his wife gets relief, SC warning

The Supreme Court has set aside the conviction and 10-year sentence of a man found guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor — now his wife, on the condition that he must not abandon her or their infant, and asserted that “the law must yield to the cause of justice” in the unique circumstances of the case.

- Utkarsh Anand

Recording that the couple married in 2021, have since had a son, and are living together, a bench of justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih said it could not ignore the woman's plea to exonerate her husband so that they may “lead a peaceful marital life.”

“We are conscious of the fact that a crime is not merely a ‘wrong against an individual but against society as a whole... However, the administration of such law is not divorced from the practical realities. Rendering justice demands a nuanced approach. This Court tailors its decisions to the specifics of each case: with firmness and severity wherever necessary and it is merciful when warranted,” held the bench.