The Allahabad High Court on September 19, 2025, delivered its much-awaited verdict in the sensational Mahoba gangrape case of 2015. While three of the four convicts walked free after the bench granted them the benefit of doubt, one accused saw his conviction and 20-year sentence upheld.
Background
The case dates back to January 2015 when a 20-year-old woman from Charkhari, Mahoba district, was allegedly abducted near her home and raped by multiple men inside a deserted building behind a local shop. The incident shook the small town, leading to heavy political pressure and heated debates about police handling.
Initially, the girl’s family lodged a report of assault under Section 323 IPC on January 12, 2015. But the very next evening, a formal FIR of gangrape was registered under Section 376-D IPC. Six persons were charge-sheeted, out of which four - Irfan son of Shahzade, Irfan alias Golu, Ritesh alias Shanu, and Manvendra alias Kallu - were convicted by the Mahoba Sessions Court in 2017 and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with fines
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Court's Observations
Justice J.J. Munir, after hearing extensive arguments from both sides, noted several inconsistencies in the prosecution's case.
- The Court highlighted that the prosecutrix’s first version was of a simple assault, not rape, raising doubts about the later FIR.
- The bench remarked that "injury is not always a precondition to prove rape," but also admitted that the late identification of some accused without a proper test identification parade cast shadows of doubt.
- The Court said the prosecutrix had been consistent in describing the crime, but her ability to correctly identify all the alleged offenders was questionable since she was semi-conscious after being forced to drink alcohol.
The State strongly defended the trial court's ruling, arguing that the testimony of the prosecutrix was "unshaken, free from exaggeration" and backed by forensic reports. But the defense lawyers countered that some accused were dragged in only after political pressure and that their names never appeared in her early statements.
The Decision
In its 82-page ruling, the High Court acquitted Irfan son of Shahzade, Ritesh alias Shanu, and Manvendra alias Kallu, giving them the benefit of doubt.
"The appellants… are hereby acquitted and shall be released forthwith unless wanted in any other case," the Court ordered.
However, the Court upheld the conviction of Irfan alias Golu, confirming his 20-year rigorous imprisonment and fine. The bench observed that his involvement was firmly established since he was known to the victim from before and consistently named by her in all versions.
The ruling brought relief to three families but deep disappointment to the survivor's side, who had hoped for full justice after a decade-long fight.
Case Title: Irfan vs. State of U.P.
