An Odisha court sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the heinous crime of raping his minor daughter in Ganjam district.
The verdict was delivered on Friday, holding the accused accountable for the repeated offences committed against his own child.
Presiding over the case, Additional District Judge Pranati Pattnaik of the POCSO court imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on the convict, warning that failure to pay would result in an additional year in prison. The court also directed the district legal service authorities to compensate the victim with Rs 10.50 lakh to aid her rehabilitation.
In its stern observations, the court emphasised that the convict, who was meant to protect his daughter, became her tormentor instead, committing reprehensible crimes. “Considering the entire circumstances, this case warrants the highest form of punishment—imprisonment for life, which shall last for the remainder of his natural life,” the court ruled.
The incident came to light when the victim, the daughter of the convict’s first wife, who passed away in 2021, reported the repeated assaults. Authorities acted swiftly, arresting the accused on December 23, 2023.
This judgment serves as a strong message against sexual crimes, reinforcing the judicial system’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals.
