Chandigarh: Stepfather gets 20-year jail for raping minor

A fast track special court here has sentenced a 31-year-old person to undergo 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case registered against him for raping his minor step daughter. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 75,000 on the convict.

The case was registered on December 27, 2022, on the complaint of the superintendent of Snehalaya for Girls, Ashiana, Sector 15, Chandigarh, She said the 12-year-old victim was admitted in Snehalaya for Girls. During her first interaction she reported sexual assault by her stepfather. The police registered the FIR against the accused under various sections of the IPC and POCSO Act.

During the course of investigation, the accused was arrested. The statement of the victim was recorded and the accused and victim were medically examined. A charge-sheet against the accused was filed before the court. Charges were framed against the accused.

After hearing the arguments the court convicted the accused and sentenced him to undergo 20 years of rigorous imprisonment while rejecting the plea for leniency. It also asked the District Legal Service Authority for releasing Rs 4 lakh as compensation to the victim.