Delhi court sentences man to life term for raping, impregnating minor

New Delhi: Delivering a verdict in 11 days, a Delhi court said it is "very scary to live in a society where children are unsafe and ‘preyed on' by people who are like vultures", as it sentenced a 45-year-old man to rigorous life imprisonment for raping and impregnating a 16-year-old girl.
Additional sessions judge Babita Puniya was hearing the arguments on sentencing against the 45-year-old man convicted under Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Pocso Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) rape provisions.
On Feb 25, police received a PCR call from a hospital regarding a 16-year-old girl who gave birth to a baby girl. "When police reached the hospital and inquired into the matter, the complainant, a class XI student, stated that she was repeatedly raped by the accused, resulting in pregnancy and thereafter, birth of the baby," DCP (outer) Sachin Sharma said.
Based on the complainant's statement, a case was registered at Nihal Vihar police station. A police team, comprising woman sub inspector Pooja and constable Manjeet Panghal, led by inspector Shispal, SHO of Nihal Vihar police station, was constituted.
During investigation, police gathered crucial evidence within a short timeframe. "Using technical intelligence and collaborating with informants, police traced the accused the next day itself, and within 31 days, a chargesheet was filed. This case marks the first heinous crime under the BNS in Delhi, where the accused was sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment," DCP Sharma said.
The case came to the court on March 28, alleging the rape of the girl, after which she became pregnant and delivered a baby. The court reserved its judgment on April 8 and pronounced it on April 15, convicting the man for offences under the Pocso Act and 64(2)(m) (committing rape on the same woman repeatedly)/351(2) (criminal intimidation) of BNS.
On April 16, the court awarded a rigorous life term to the man, observing that the survivor was an innocent, helpless ‘child' who was sexually assaulted by the man in a calculated manner. "It is very scary that we live in a society where children are not safe and people—like the convict—keep an eye on them like vultures to quench their lust," the judge observed, sentencing the convict to rigorous life imprisonment, which would mean imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life.
According to the prosecution, an FIR was registered in the matter in March this year, more than a year after the offence was committed.
Noting that the baby born to the girl was given to a special adoption agency, the court said even the infant became a victim of the convict's crime.
Awarding Rs 19.5 lakh compensation to the victim, the court said that though the victim's suffering cannot be compensated in monetary terms, financial assistance would enable her to equip herself with desirable skills or education, which would, in turn, help her achieve some level of independence.