Raping minor: Maha court awards man 10 years rigorous jail term
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Palghar/Maharashtra: A court here on Friday awarded ten years' rigorous imprisonment to a 47-year-old man for raping a minor girl. The court of special judge Sanjaykumar V Khongal imposed a collective fine of Rs 6,000 under various charges on the accused.
The court was informed by Special Public Prosecutor Jayprakash Patil that the girl was seven when she was assaulted in 2016. The convict, as well as the girl's father, were security guards.
On February 3, 2016, when the girl's mother went to fetch water, the accused took the victim to his house under some pretext and raped her. When the girl's mother returned, she found her daughter at the house of the accused.
The girl complained of stomach pain and informed her mother what had happened to her. After this, a complaint was filed, and the convict was arrested, according to the prosecution.
The court ruled that the prosecution has proved beyond a reasonable doubt all the charges against the accused.
"The state has the responsibility to punish the wrongdoer/the guilty and also to see the victim is not only compensated by the state for the loss and injury suffered but also for the rehabilitation of the victim," the court observed. "The object and purpose of section 357(A) of the Code of Criminal Procedure are to enable the court to direct the state to pay compensation to the victim. It is one of the methods to protect the victim and rehabilitate her."
The judge said the court has also inquired with the accused about his financial position. He was a security guard having three children and had a meagre earning source, the court noted.
"The victim belongs to a poor financial background. The humiliation or the reputation that is snuffed out cannot be re-compensated, but then monetary compensation will at least provide some solace. The victim and her family have suffered a lot. Therefore, taking into consideration all these factors, this court is of the view to granting compensation to the victim through the District Legal Services Authority," the court order read.