A court in Muzaffarnagar has sentenced a 50-year-old daily wager to life imprisonment for raping his 17-year-old daughter, observing that such “heinous crimes” leave an “indelible trauma” on the victim and demand a deterrent punishment.
Additional district government counsel (ADGC) Vinay Arora on Friday said the court of additional district and sessions judge Manjula Bhalotia convicted the man under IPC section 376 (rape) and relevant sections of the Pocso Act. The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the convict.
The survivor’s mother filed a police complaint on Dec 15, 2020, stating that she had traveled to her maternal home on Dec 11, 2020, leaving her husband, her 17-year-old daughter and her two minor sons at home. While away, neighbours called to inform her that her husband had sexually assaulted their daughter over three days, and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the matter to anyone.
Following the mother’s complaint, an FIR was registered under IPC sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 506 (criminal intimidation), alongside Sections 3/4 of the Pocso Act. Police recorded statements of the survivor and witnesses, and conducted a medical examination of the minor.
The accused was subsequently arrested, and DNA samples from both him and the survivor were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis. Finding sufficient evidence, police submitted a chargesheet on Dec 21, 2020.
The court handed down the life sentence on Thursday after examining all witnesses and forensic evidence.
While delivering the verdict, the court observed: “When passing a sentence, the court must balance the gravity of the crime, its impact on society and the background of the offender. Physical and mental abuse of a minor daughter by a father is an act that tarnishes human civilisation. It is a crime that leaves a lasting lifelong scar on the victim’s mind.”
“There is no room for leniency in such heinous crimes, and the punishment must be such that it sends a deterrent message to society. Therefore... this court concludes that the life sentence would be appropriate to achieve the ends of justice,” the court said.
