POCSO court in Gujarat's Mehsana awards life imprisonment to father for raping minor daughter
A Special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Mehsana district on Friday sentenced a 51-year-old man to rigorous imprisonment for life for repeatedly raping and impregnating his 17-year-old daughter by threatening to kill her and the rest of the family. Awarding the punishment to the accused in the case, the court held that the POCSO Act legislature could 'also not have a reason to think that any father can be an accused' under the Act.
Stating that the crime is 'unique and serious', the court said, '…this is a very unfortunate moment that this court had to try this case where an accused under POCSO Act is the father of the victim girl… This court has no words to describe its anguish against the heinous act of this accused… During the whole period of trial the body language of the accused was also observed by this court… no sign of sorrow or (repentance) was there… This court is speechless and really shocked to come across such a case.'
The prosecution's case was that in April 2024, the brother of the victim approached the Mehsana district police to lodge an FIR as the victim, who had been taken to a hospital after she complained of stomach pain, was found to be pregnant. The complainant informed the police that the victim had confided in him that her father had raped her and threatened to kill her and the rest of the family members if she complained about the incident. Accordingly, the accused was booked under Indian Penal Code sections for rape, criminal intimidation and under relevant sections of the POCSO Act.
'During deposition of the victim … she repeatedly said that she couldn't believe that her own father had raped her… Accused had threatened the victim. This court is really worried for the future of this victim girl.'
The court also awarded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the victim under the Gujarat Victim Compensation Fund.
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