Man gets seven year RI for raping mentally-challenged girl in Delhi

Relying on the testimony of a mentally-challenged minor, a Delhi court has awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment to her neighbour for raping her several times nearly two years ago.

"The victim has assigned the role to the accused that he committed rape upon her, her version has further been corroborated by her mother. It has further been strengthened by medical evidence," Additional Sessions Judge SC Rajan of a fast track court said.

The 12-year-old victim, who could not answer all the queries posed by the court and defence counsel satisfactorily, however, identified the convict during the trial by pointing towards him. The court also imposed a fine of Rs2,000 on convict Rattan Mandal, a resident of south Delhi, after holding him guilty under section 376 (rape) of the IPC.

It rejected the convict's plea for leniency saying "the accused is not entitled to any leniency since he committed rape upon a mentally retarded minor girl who does not understand the ups and downs of the society."

An FIR, on May 21, 2007, almost 22 days after the incident, was lodged at Okhla Industrial Area police station against the accused by the victim's mother following the doctors' opinion that she was pregnant.

The victim was taken to the hospital after she complained of stomach ache. The accused, who was residing in the neighbourhood, had raped the victim several times when her parents used to go out to their respective offices.

Besides medical evidence, the court considered the testimonies of the victim and her mother to drive home the guilt of the accused, a betel shop owner.