A district court in Kolhapur has delivered a significant verdict, sentencing a 35-year-old man to twenty years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of a thirteen-year-old student. The conviction, secured primarily through DNA evidence, brings a measure of justice in a harrowing case that led to the victim giving birth prematurely.
Court Relies on DNA Profiling for Conviction
Principal district and sessions judge Kavita B Agrawal found the accused guilty under sections 376 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 4 and 6 of the stringent Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The technical evidence, specifically DNA profiling, proved decisive. The forensic report conclusively established that the accused was the biological father of the baby girl delivered by the victim.
"The DNA profile of the baby girl delivered by the victim matched with the 35-year-old accused. It turned out to be crucial evidence, along with the statements of the victim and other witnesses," explained assistant public prosecutor Shital Rote.
A Harrowing Ordeal Ignored Due to Illiteracy
The tragic sequence of events unfolded with the minor victim, a Class VIII student, delivering a premature baby girl inside her home's bathroom on September 25, 2021. Shockingly, the girl and her parents, who are not literate, were unaware of the pregnancy. They mistakenly believed the swelling in her stomach was due to gas and ignored it. The victim was approximately six months pregnant at the time of delivery.
The accused was known to the victim's family, as both he and the girl's father worked at the same place. Exploiting this familiarity and access, the perpetrator would call the girl to his house when his wife was away for work. He sexually abused her and threatened her, warning that her parents' lives would be in danger if she disclosed the assault.
One Acquitted, Life Altered for Victim
Following the birth of the child, the parents approached the Kolhapur police, leading to a case against two men. While one accused was granted bail and later acquitted, the primary accused faced the full force of the law. The court acquitted the second man after his lawyer highlighted inconsistencies in the victim's recorded statement regarding his involvement.
The aftermath of the crime has been devastating for the young survivor. The girl, who was just over 13 years old at the time of the incident, was forced to drop out of school. The conviction offers legal closure, but the profound personal and educational disruption she endured remains. The convicted man is currently in jail serving his sentence.
