Delhi, October 8: A man who allegedly raped and impregnated his minor relative in the national capital was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court recently. The accused had raped and impregnated the 14-year-old minor girl, who is said to be his distant relative, in 2019. Additional Sessions Judge Preeti Parewa said that the purpose of the criminal justice system was not only to achieve catharsis by handing down proportional punishment to the offender but also to rehabilitate the victim.

Besides 20 years of jail sentence, the Delhi court also ordered that INR 15 lakh compensation be provided to the rape victim. "If we fail to do so, we are also abdicating our duties towards the victim, whose psychological well-being has been dented and may have longer repercussions," the court reports TOI. Delhi Shocker: 4 Arrested for Physical, Sexual Assault of 17-Year-Old Boy in Jahangirpuri.

The court further stated that testimonies of witnesses produced by the prosecution proved that the accused administered drugs before raping the minor girl. The alleged penetrative sexual assault led to the victim getting pregnant. While arguing the case, Vineet Dahiya, Additional Public Prosecutor, asked the court to grant a maximum sentence for the convict.

Dahiya told the court that the convict committed heinous offences on the minor victim, who was 14 years old at the time of the alleged crime. He also said that the accused did not deserve any leniency and must be punished severely so that a strong message could be sent to society. Delhi Shocker: 8-Year-Old Girl Kidnapped From National Capital, Rescued in Bihar, 1 Arrested.

While awarding the 20-year sentence, the city-based court said that the law should adopt corrective machinery or deterrence based on the factual matrix while operating the sentencing system.

Women and Child Helpline Numbers:

Childline India – 1098; Missing Child and Women – 1094; Women’s Helpline – 181; National Commission for Women Helpline – 112; National Commission for Women Helpline Against Violence – 7827170170; Police Women and Senior Citizen Helpline – 1091/1291.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2024 03:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).