Srinagar, Oct. 1 -- Srinagar- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has overturned the conviction of a man in a 2007 rape case, observing that the prosecution case had evolved from an initial allegation of an attempt to rape into one of completed sexual assault during the course of investigation.

While allowing an appeal filed by Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, a bench of Justice Sanjay Parihar set aside the October 10, 2023 judgment and November 7, 2023 order passed by the Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track), Budgam. The trial court had sentenced Ganie to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh under Section 376 RPC, besides five years' rigorous imprisonment under Section 450 RPC and one year's simple imprisonment under Section ...