Coimbatore: A 43-year-old construction worker was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 years of rigours imprisonment for raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl at Kannappa Nagar here in August 2012. The convict was identified as S Murugan, 43, of Vikramangalam in Madurai district. He was lodged at Coimbatore central prison.
Police on the case said the girl's mother, a sanitary worker at a private hospital, was in a relationship with Murugan and lived with him at Kannappa Nagar after her husband deserted her in 2006, doubting her fidelity. Her daughter also stayed with them, while her son remained at the house of his grandparents. Murugan was already married and his family was in Madurai district.
At the time of the incident, the girl was a Class 9 student of a corporation higher secondary school. On August 18, 2012, when the girl's mother had gone to the hospital for work, Murugan raped her. She tried to raise an alarm but Murugan threatened to kill her and her mother if she were to reveal the incident to anyone. He then raped the girl several times.
On September 9, 2012, the victim revealed everything to her class teacher, who immediately approached Childline. All-woman police station (central) was also informed and a team of police rescued the minor girl from her house.
Based on her complaint, police registered a case against Murugan under Sction 5 (n), (l) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual offences (POCSO) At and 506 (i) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
They also arrested Murugan and remanded him in judicial custody. The victim was, meanwhile, sent to a shelter home. Murugan was later granted conditional bail.
The trial was held at the district Mahila Court and the special public prosecutor, R Sarojini, cross examined 19 prosecution witnesses, including the minor girl. Murugan, however, told the court that he wasn't guilty of the crime.
The court found him guilty and the judge, G Raja, sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under POCSO Act and another two years of rigorous imprisonment for criminal intimidation. The court said both the sentences would run concurrently. The court also fined him Rs6,000.
Police on the case said the girl's mother, a sanitary worker at a private hospital, was in a relationship with Murugan and lived with him at Kannappa Nagar after her husband deserted her in 2006, doubting her fidelity. Her daughter also stayed with them, while her son remained at the house of his grandparents. Murugan was already married and his family was in Madurai district.
At the time of the incident, the girl was a Class 9 student of a corporation higher secondary school. On August 18, 2012, when the girl's mother had gone to the hospital for work, Murugan raped her. She tried to raise an alarm but Murugan threatened to kill her and her mother if she were to reveal the incident to anyone. He then raped the girl several times.
On September 9, 2012, the victim revealed everything to her class teacher, who immediately approached Childline. All-woman police station (central) was also informed and a team of police rescued the minor girl from her house.
Based on her complaint, police registered a case against Murugan under Sction 5 (n), (l) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual offences (POCSO) At and 506 (i) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
They also arrested Murugan and remanded him in judicial custody. The victim was, meanwhile, sent to a shelter home. Murugan was later granted conditional bail.
The trial was held at the district Mahila Court and the special public prosecutor, R Sarojini, cross examined 19 prosecution witnesses, including the minor girl. Murugan, however, told the court that he wasn't guilty of the crime.
The court found him guilty and the judge, G Raja, sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under POCSO Act and another two years of rigorous imprisonment for criminal intimidation. The court said both the sentences would run concurrently. The court also fined him Rs6,000.