S G Manjunath, assistant director, land reforms department, was facing charges of raping Sudha (name changed). The latter had alleged that Manjunath had an illicit relationship with her and promised to marry her. He went back on the promise, after he learnt she was five months pregnant.
She lodged a complaint on August 1, 2003. The Mandya court ordered a DNA test of the child, mother and Manjunath.
Though the test revealed Manjunath was not the child’s father, the court sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. Manjunath challenged the order in the High Court.