BSP leader sentenced to 10 years for raping minor, fined Rs 1 lakh

Nine years after the rape of a minor girl student, the Ferozabad District Court has sentenced a BSP leader to 10 years of imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh, half of which is to be given to the victim and her family.

A rape case was registered against Vimal Yadav, a zila panchayat member from Shikohabad and a local BSP leader, on September 30, 2009. He had lured the minor to his home on the pretext of getting her admitted to a school.

When the victim returned home, she told her parents about her repeated rape. Despite threat from the accused, her parents lodged an FIR in 2009. After investigation, the police arrested the accused and filed a chargesheet.

The case has been dragging on since then, with the influential leader threatening the victim and her family.

The Assistant District Prosecution Officer Srinarain Saxena said that the victim and her family did not budge and continued to fight for justice.

He said that the victim's medical examination report, the victim's statement, witnesses and other material evidences produced in the court helped the prosecution prove the rape charges against the accused during the trial.

After the final hearing, the Additional Sessions and District Judge Jai Singh Pundir sentenced the BSP leader to 10 years of imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh. "We fought a long battle against influential people. But we are happy that my daughter got justice," said the victim's father Radhey.

The counsel of the accused said that they will appeal in the High Court against the verdict of the District Court.