Social stigma saves rape accused

Since a 19-year-old rape victim refused to come to court and testify for fear of social stigma, her alleged rapist escaped unpunished. For lack of evidence, judge VG Joshi on Wednesday acquitted Laganno Vichchhur, 34, of the charges of kidnapping and raping a minor.

If convicted, Vichchhur would have been liable to a prison term of upto ten years and a fine. “Meena (name changed) is now married and has two children.

Meena’s mother refused to give her daughter’s whereabouts fearing that Meena’s life would be ruined if her husband learnt of the incident,” said advocate RU Jha, who defended the accused.

Accused Laganno Vichchhur was Meena’s neighbour at a hutment in Ghatkopar. Despite being a married man with two children, he pursued Meena (then fifteen) and eloped with her to Karnataka on January 15, 2004. The couple lived in Karnataka for eight months and then returned to Mumbai on August 8, 2004.

In the meantime, Meena’s mother initially filed a missing person’s complaint and a month later, filed a complaint of kidnapping on January 30, 2004. After Meena returned home, the police added the charge of rape and arrested Vichchhur.

“When Vichchhur heard that Meena’s mother had lodged a complaint, he returned from Karnatak and surrendered before the Police,” said Jha.

cooperd@dnaindia.net