Dehradun: The court of Nainital’s district and sessions judge and special judge of SC-ST Act sentenced a 28-year-old resident of Ramnagar to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 22-year-old Dalit woman on the pretext of marriage in 2022. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 40,000, directing that Rs 30,000 be given to the woman as compensation.
According to district government counsel SK Sharma, the woman filed a complaint on Feb 15, 2022, alleging that the accused had engaged in sexual relations with her over the previous two years by falsely promising marriage.
In her complaint, she stated that on Feb 7, 2022, the accused took her on a Jim Corbett safari, claiming that other companions, including women, would join them. However, she later realised they were alone. During the safari, he allegedly spiked her juice with intoxicants and sexually assaulted her. Her family found her unconscious at Dhangarhi Gate the next day. When they took her to the police, the accused was summoned and initially promised to marry her within seven days but later backed out.
The woman also alleged that despite previously claiming to reject caste distinctions, the man ultimately refused to marry her due to her caste.
The prosecution presented 17 witnesses in the case. After reviewing the evidence and hearing the arguments, the court found the prosecution’s case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the man under section 376(2)(n) of the IPC and section 3(2)(v) of the SC-ST Act. The court also directed the district legal services authority to ensure the victim receives the compensation amount.
Courtesy : Times of India
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