The Delhi High Court has upheld a 10-year jail sentence for a man convicted of raping a minor in view of the gravity of the offence.
Justice S.P. Garg, in a recent order, held that the accused had betrayed the parents of victim who had allowed their child to go to his house for a toffee.
Dismissing the appeal filed by Megh Nath Kumar, the court said: “Considering the enormity of the offence, no mitigating circumstances are there to reduce the minimum sentence imposed under Section 376 (2)(f) (rape on a woman below 12 years) of IPC….
“I find that the conviction of the appellant is based upon fair appraisal of the evidence. Conviction and sentence are maintained.”
“The court can understand the gravity of the offence whereby an innocent child aged about 5/6 years residing in the neighbourhood of the accused was ravished. The court can well understand the trauma of the child. The accused allured the innocent child to his room and committed rape on her. He betrayed the trust of child’s parents who in good faith allowed the child to accompany him,” the order said.
On Jan 22, 2007 the accused had taken the victim to his house under Badli police station on the pretext of giving her a toffee and raped her, as per the prosecution. He also gave her money not to tell about it to her family members, the complaint added
