December 25th 2024.
In a recent court ruling in Palghar, Maharashtra, a man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for committing a heinous crime. The Additional Sessions Judge, AV Choudhari-Inamdar, declared the accused, 45-year-old Dashrath Maruti Sutar, guilty of raping a 40-year-old mentally challenged woman in 2021. The incident took place in Kev, a village in Vikramgad area of the district.
The court proceedings on Tuesday found that the prosecution had successfully presented evidence to prove all charges against the accused. According to the Additional Public Prosecutor, Arun Masram, the victim was sleeping in her home in Manor area when the accused entered in December 2021. Her mother was away at work at the time of the incident. The man intimidated the woman and then proceeded to rape and silence her, threatening her with dire consequences if she were to speak of the crime to anyone.
The victim, who was found to be pregnant in April 2022, prompted her mother to file a complaint with the Manor police. The FIR included charges of rape, among others, leading to the arrest of the accused. The court also noted that DNA testing had confirmed that the accused was the father of the victim's unborn child. This evidence was deemed conclusive by the court.
In addition to the life sentence, the court ordered the accused to pay a fine of Rs 11,000 to the victim as compensation. The judge also directed the case to be referred to the district legal services authority for further compensation to the victim.
According to the investigating officer, Rizwana Kakeri, the police faced difficulty in recording the statement of the victim due to her mental disability. However, they were able to communicate with her using sign language and with the help of her mother. The court also heard testimonies from eight prosecution witnesses, including the victim's relatives, which helped in establishing the case beyond any doubt.
This ruling serves as a reminder that justice will be served to those who commit such heinous acts, and it also highlights the importance of support and protection for mentally challenged individuals in our society.
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