'False rape' cases soar in Delhi as number of acquittals hits 78 per cent

Story here. Excerpt:

'Rape is sinister, but perhaps equally sinister is the use of false rape charges as a tool to extort vulnerable men.

The number of cases of rape has seen an alarming increase in the Capital after the December 16 gang-rape incident, with two such cases being reported daily on an average.

However, "frivolous rape cases" have also seen a phenomenal rise, with accusations being used when relations go sour, or to settle scores.

Data from Delhi Police show 616 rape and 1,336 molestation cases were registered between January 1 and April 30.

This is a 36 per cent rise in rape cases against the 450 cases registered in the same period of last year.

Though there is an increase in the number of rape cases, the percentage of the "accused" being acquitted has shot up considerably too.

"In 2013, 1,559 rape and 3,347 molestation cases were registered as compared to 680 rape and 653 incidents of molestation in 2012. However, the acquittal rate in rape cases was 46 per cent in 2012, while it shot up to 78 per cent in 2013.
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In a recent case, three domestic helps from Jharkhand had registered rape cases against their employers to extort money from them.

The racket was exposed as one individual was common in the complaints filed by the three in all the separate cases, which raised suspicion.

They complainants later confessed that the charges were fabricated before a city court, which directed the police to probe the matter.'