Chennai, Nov 25 (BPNS)

The Tiruppur district Mahila court sentenced a 29-year-old man for double life imprisonment for raping and marrying a minor girl against her wish. The incident occurred in 2016 when the man was 24 years old and the minor girl 14.

The man, a relative of the girl raped her while she was alone at home and was taking a bath. Later his parents and his aunt threatened the parents of the girl with dire consequences if they don’t agree for the girl to be married off to him.

The marriage was solemnized on February 17, 2016, after which the minor girl’s mother approached the all-women police station at Udumalpet. Police charged cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (Pocso) Act, the Indian Penal Code, and Child marriage Act and filed the charge sheet before the Mahila court.

Mahila Court judge, Sugandhi, sentenced the person with double life imprisonment under the Pocso Act and seven years rigorous imprisonment for criminally intimidating the minor girl, and two years for child marriage.

The court sentenced his parents to two years rigorous imprisonment for conducting child marriage and slapped a fine of Rs 30,000 on him. The court also directed the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the girl.

The girls parents and the man’s aunt were acquitted.