High Court upholds tailor's 10-year sentence for raping minor

The Bombay high court recently upheld the 10-year sentence given to a 48-year-old tailor for raping a 10-year-old.

Justice KU Chandiwal of the Aurangabad bench said, “The appellant has libidinously ravaged a tiny female tot like a wild beast. Analysis of the evidence doesn’t leave any room for doubt against him.”

As per the prosecution, on October 10, 2007, the victim who used to reside next to Utamrao Chikne’s shop was alone at home. On the pretext of showing her a guava tree, Chikne took her behind his shop and raped her.

Later, when a local informed her parents that their daughter was bleeding, they rushed her to hospital. The accused accompanied them. On a doctor’s advice, she was shifted to another hospital in Aurangabad. Then too the accused was with her.

It was during the treatment that a doctor raised an apprehension of the girl having been sexually abused. After being discharged on December 16, 2007, she confided in her mother who lodged a complaint and the accused was arrested.

During the trial, the prosecution examined 11 witnesses. The accused, however, said he was being falsely implicated.

The court said, “It can’t be believed that a case was weaved against the appellant (Chikne). It’s difficult to digest that the girl’s parents themselves would expose her prestige.” It upheld the sentence and dismissed his appeal challenging the conviction.

@plumbermushi