High Court upholds 10-year sentence for man who raped step-daughter

The Delhi high court has upheld the conviction and 10-year sentence of a man, who sexually assaulted his 17-year-old  <g data-gr-id="20">step-daughter</g> for five months and made her pregnant. The incident took place in a West Delhi area in 2009.

The victim’s mother has six children from her previous husband, who had allegedly deserted her. Thereafter, <g data-gr-id="26">she,</g> married the convict  and started living with him along with her children. The man sexually assaulted his step-daughter for five months at his residence. The victim’s mother learnt about her daughter’s <g data-gr-id="23">pregnancy,</g> when she got her examined at a hospital. It was then that the girl told her mother about the gruesome act committed on her by her step-father. Though her pregnancy was terminated, the foetus was preserved for a DNA test. The test proved the charge levelled against the convicted man by the victim.

Earlier, before the metropolitan magistrate, the victim tried to save the man by saying that she had consensual sex with him. But later, the court found that she was nervous and scared at the time of recording her statement. 

“If <g data-gr-id="27">tenor</g> of the statement is analysed, it reveals that despite the appellant having sexually abused her, she did not want him to be punished,’’ the court said.

“Considering the gravity of the offence and the relationship of the appellant (Rajesh) with the prosecutrix, the sentence order requires no modification,’’ the Court <g data-gr-id="21">said,</g> while dismissing his appeal.