HC exonerates athlete Pinki Pramanik of rape charge

The Calcutta High Court today exonerated Asian Games gold medalist Pinki Pramanik of charges of rape and cheating against her brought by a woman who was her live-in partner.

Justice Subrata Talukdar quashed the charges of rape and cheating against Pramanik who was accused by the woman in June 2012 of not marrying her despite promising to do so and having physical relationship.

Charges were framed against the athlete on the basis of the woman's complaint under sections 376 (rape) and 418 (cheating) of IPC by the Barasat court sessions judge.

Challenging this, Pramanik had moved the high court in late 2013 and prayed for quashing of the charges against her.

Her counsel Kaushik Gupta submitted before Justice Talukdar that medical examination conducted on her proved that she was a woman.

Gupta stated before the court that under Indian law only a man can be accused of rape and as such charges of rape and cheating against Pramanik be quashed.

The prosecution opposed the plea of Pramanik. Justice Talukdar quashed the proceedings against Pramanik after hearing both the parties.