Kerala court hands man 141 years in prison for sexually abusing stepdaughter

A court in Kerala has sentenced a man to a total of 141 years in prison for repeatedly raping his minor stepdaughter for years while her mother was away. Manjeri Fast Track Special Court Judge Ashraf AM sentenced the man to prison terms of varying duration under various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, the IPC and the Juvenile Justice Act for a total of 141 years.

However, the man will serve a 40-year prison sentence as this is the highest prison sentence imposed on the man and the different sentences must be served concurrently, according to the court’s November 29 order. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 7.85. lakh on the convict.

It was also ordered that the victim receive compensation.

The convict and the victim are residents of Tamil Nadu and the stepfather had been sexually abusing the girl since 2017, a police officer involved in the case said.

The girl eventually told her mother at the suggestion of a friend, who in turn informed police, the officer said.

Delhi court sentences man to 15 years in prison for rape

A Delhi court sentenced a man to 15 years in jail for allegedly repeatedly raping a minor girl in 2018, noting that the crime not only offended the survivor’s dignity but was also a crime against society.

Additional Sessions Judge Harleen Singh heard the case against Saddam Hussein, who was convicted on charges of kidnapping and rape.

Additional Public Prosecutor Ankit Aggarwal sought the maximum punishment and said the convict had committed a ‘serious offence’. According to the prosecution, the 26-year-old convict, a tailor by profession, kidnapped the minor from her school, took her to his house and raped her for three days in February 2018.

“There are no two ways about it that a sexual offense against a child is not only an unlawful invasion of her dignity and privacy, but also a crime against society, which leaves an indelible mark on the child’s psychology. The court should deal with sexual crimes against children with utmost sensitivity,” the November 20 judgment said.

The court said that in addition to the deterrent effect, it should also take into account the principle of proportionality between the seriousness of the crime and the punishment.