DK court sentences 50 year-old man for heinous rape

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 25, 2014: It has come to the attention of the press that  D K Principal District and Sessions Court on November 24,Monday sentenced a 50 years-old rape convict, for the rape of a minor and physically challenged girl, with life imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 50,000.

MG Uma, judge of special court for the trial of cases under POCSO Act, had convicted Sundara on November 21. The judge punished Sundara, a resident of Kelinjar in Kuppepadavu in Mangalore taluk, who was held guilty for raping the girl of same village five times. Sundara had raped the girl at her house on June 11, 12 and 13 and later, in his house on July 10 and 11 in 2013. Bajpe police had registered the case based on a complaint filed by Childline Mangalore on August 23, 2013 and later Sundara was arrested the next day.

The special court for the trial of cases under POCSO Act awarded life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 under Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Meanwhile, the convict also has been punished for one year of rigorous imprisonment and Rs 1,000 fine; and five years of rigorous imprisonment with Rs 5,000 fine under IPC Sections 448 (trespass), 366A (procuration of minor girl) respectively. The convict has to pay Rs 56,000 as penalty, wherein Rs 50,000 will be paid as compensation to the victim. If Sundara fails to pay the penalty, then he will have to undergo one more year of simple imprisonment, special public prosecutor Pushparaj Adyanthaya said.

The court also has directed that the victim may apply for compensation from the District Legal Services Authority, if the convict does not pay the fine. The court had delivered the verdict after hearing 16 witnesses including the Childline members, the special public prosecutor said.