Chandigarh, Sept. 19 -- A fast track special court acquitted Appu alias Raju, who was accused of kidnapping a minor girl, wrongfully confining and raping her, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Additional sessions judge Yashika pronounced the judgment on September 9. The accused was charged under Sections 137(2) BNS (kidnapping), 87 BNS (kidnapping/abduction to compel marriage or illicit intercourse), 140(3) BNS (concealing or confining a kidnapped/abducted person), 64(2)(m) BNS (repeated rape), 65(1) BNS (rape of a woman below 16 years) and Section 6 POCSO Act (aggravated penetrative sexual assault of a child).

According to the prosecution, the girl went missing from her residence on Decem...