Vishal Dadlani criticized the Chhattisgarh High Court ruling that downgraded the rape conviction to attempted rape.
Recently, the Chhattisgarh High Court reduced the seven-year prison sentence handed down by a lower court to a man in a 2004 rape case and found him guilty of attempted rape instead, stating that the act committed by the convict preceded actual partial penetration but without ejaculation. Music composer Vishal Dadlani had a strong reaction to the ruling.
Vishal Dadlani reacts to Chhattisgarh HC rape case verdict
On Wednesday, Vishal took to Instagram and shared a tweet from Live Law, which states, “Keeping penis above vagina, ejaculating without penetration is not #rape”: #Chhattisgarh High Court changes rape conviction.”
Responding to the tweet, Vishal wrote: “Seriously!?? WHAT!!!??? @livelaw.in you need to start naming these judges, and post their pictures online along with such rulings. Let their wives, daughters, sisters and mothers see what the ‘man of their house’ is thinking. Clearly someone is running #RapistBachaaoAbhiyaan.” Many fans agreed with the composer’s criticism of the ruling after sharing screenshots of his Instagram story on other platforms.
About this issue
The Chhattisgarh High Court ruling came in a case dating back to 2004, where the prosecution alleged that Vasudeo Gond brought the survivor, who belongs to Dhamtari district, to his residence on May 21, 2004, by misleading her. She was allegedly kept in a room where her hands and feet were tied, and she was sexually assaulted. A complaint was later filed with the Arjuni Police Station.
During the trial, there were differences in the survivor’s testimony. While she initially stated that intercourse had taken place, she later clarified that there had been no penetration and that the accused had kept his genitals in her vagina for approximately ten minutes. The medical examination revealed the presence of redness and white discharge, and traces of human sperm were found on her clothes. However, the hymen was intact, and the doctor did not give a final opinion confirming rape.
On 6 April 2005, the Dhamtari Additional Sessions Court found Gond guilty under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for seven years.
The conviction was later reviewed by the Chhattisgarh High Court, which on February 16 changed the charge to attempted rape under Section 376 read with 511 of the IPC. The court reduced the sentence to aggravated imprisonment for three years and six months and imposed a fine of 1,000 pounds. $200.
The ruling received widespread criticism, with many arguing that what the convict did here was no worse than rape, and others criticizing the court for watering down the definition of rape.
Rhea Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times and lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s a rumor making waves in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves searching for the best stories, discovering viral pegs and turning them into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for the entertainment industry soon led her to a career in entertainment journalism, because for her it was always entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her opinions and reviews, especially when something excites her, surprises her, or completely disappoints her. A huge fan of reality shows, Rhea enjoys tracking every twist, mission, and breakdown, breaking it down for readers who can’t get enough high-voltage drama. Movies are also close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a worth-watching OTT series, she always watches and analyzes what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities and asking questions that go beyond the norm. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, binge-watching underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or re-watching iconic Bollywood moments.Read more
