Man jailed for 7 years jail for raping minor step daughter

A Delhi court has jailed a man for seven years for raping his minor step daughter after administering sleeping pills to her and making her pregnant, leading to the birth of a premature baby which died three days later.

"The act of the convict is not only a crime but it is a sin towards the society as a whole. The convict has committed such an offence which cannot be expected from a person in our society," Additional Sessions Judge Sudhir Kumar Jain said, while convicting 52-year-old Rohini resident Vishnu Khandelwal.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs9,000 on him, saying he took undue advantage of the victim who was in his custody and care.

"The act of the convict shattered the victim's dignity and violated her human and basic rights to lead the life coupled with dignity and honour," the court said.

As per the prosecution's case, the victim's father died, after which her mother married Khandelwal and started living with him as he was having a estranged relation with his first wife.

The prosecution said the victim's mother too died in May, 2007, leaving the victim and her younger sister in the man's custody, while their younger brother preferred to stay with their maternal uncle.

In February 2008, Khandelwal committed rape upon the victim after administering sleeping pills to her. When he came to know that his 15-year-old step daughter had become become pregnant, he threw her out of the house along with her younger sister.

The girl delivered a pre-mature baby in a nursing home in Rohini on July 20, 2008, but it died three days later.

The girl registered a complaint at the Rohini police station thereafter and Khandelwal was arrested.
The court said "their (women) honour and dignity cannot be touched or violated. They also have the right to lead an honourable and peaceful life".

Khandelwal, however, had contended that the girl was a consenting party in the act and he had thrown her out only when she had started demanding share in his property. The court, however, rejected his plea.