MAHESH KUMAR vs STATE OF PUNJAB — Crl.A. No. 405/1998

Summary of Crl.A. No. 405/1998 (Mahesh Kumar v. State of Punjab) The Supreme Court upheld Mahesh Kumar's conviction under Sections 376 and 366 IPC for abducting his neighbor's daughter (a minor under 16 years) and committing rape. He was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment on each count with ₹1,000 fine. The Court rejected the appellant's argument that the victim was over 16 years old, relying on school admission records, medical examination, and X-ray evidence confirming her minor status at the time of the 1985 incident. The appeal was disposed of accordingly. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.