Rape or Pseudo Rape: A Five Year Study of the Medico-legal Cases in Imphal

The medico-legal cases brought to the RIMS Imphal are mainly elopement cases. After elopement, disagreement arises between the parties and then a charge of rape is brought against the boy (Sec 366-kidnapping and Sec 375&376-rape). This study was undertaken to find out the incidence, the actual circumstances, the physical findings, the legal consequences and the practical flaw in the rape laws. During the last 5 yrs i.e., from 2007–11, there were 224 medico-legal cases. Majority were rape victims and accused persons. When these rape cases were carefully examined by means of detailed history-taking and personal interview with the victim as well as the accused, they turned out to be elopement cases. Only a few were actual rape cases. Because of the absolute advantage given to the victim in the Rape laws, many a times, the boy suffers punishment even though the act of elopement was committed with mutual consent. This study has brought to light the pseudo rape cases for which innocent men suffer the ill consequences due to the many loopholes in the Rape laws.