New Delhi: In a historic ruling, the Manjeri Fast Track Special POCSO Court has sentenced a man to a cumulative 141 years of rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly raping his minor stepdaughter over three years. While the cumulative sentence spans over a century, the court has ordered the accused to serve 40 years in prison, the longest sentence among the varying durations awarded.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 7.85 lakh on the convict, which will be provided to the survivor as compensation. Both the convict and the victim are natives of Tamil Nadu.
The abuse began in 2017
The abuse began in 2017 when the victim’s family, searching for work, moved to Malappuram, Kerala. The family stayed in rented accommodations across the district, and the convict took advantage of the mother’s absence to sexually assault the girl repeatedly. The case came to light on February 5, 2021, when the victim, then 12, confided in a friend about her ordeal. Encouraged by her friend, the girl narrated the incidents to her mother, who approached the police. Based on the victim’s testimony and her friend’s statement, the police arrested the accused.
Despite initial action, the mother later withdrew her support for the case, allegedly due to external pressures. However, the court relied on the survivor’s consistent testimony and corroborating evidence to convict the accused.
Mother made co-accused
Shockingly, the abuse did not end with the initial arrest. The child, sent to the Nirbhaya Home for protection, returned to her mother during a vacation. While on bail, the convict visited the family and assaulted the girl again. The mother failed to report this incident, leading the police to file a separate case and name her as a co-accused for her inaction.
Special Judge Ashraf A M delivered the judgment on November 29, citing provisions from the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the Juvenile Justice Act. The accused was sentenced as per sections 376 (3), 354 A(1), 354 A(2) of the IPC, sections 5(1), 6 (1), 5(n), 9(1), 10, 9(m) of the POCSO Act and section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
