HC lowers sentence as man ‘attempted’ rape

A rape accused who was sentenced 10 years imprisonment for sexually abusing a minor has got relief from the Bombay high court. On January 22, the court reduced his sentence to five years on grounds that he did not commit the offence but tried to.

The Aurangabad bench of the high court acquitted Amol Jadhav, 19, who was sentenced on November 23, 2011, by the trial court under section 376 (2) (f) for attempting to rape an 8-year-old. Jadhav said he was framed.

Justice KU Chandiwal said, “If the attempt to rape fails, the crime is not completed. However, the law punishes the person for even attempting.”

On March 31, 2011, the accused allegedly raped her. The victim’s parents saw him sneaking out from their house and filed a complaint.

Jadhav has been in custody since November 2011 and is entitled for set off under section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for the period of imprisonment undergone.