The Madras High Court has confirmed a lower court order sentencing a person to seven years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) for raping a 60-year-old woman in April 1999.
Justice T. Sudanthiram dismissed a revision petition by the convicted person, challenging an order of the Principal Sessions Judge (PSJ), Puducherry, who confirmed the conviction and sentence by the Assistant Sessions Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, Puducherry, awarding seven years' RI to the accused.
The charge against Padmanabhan was that he raped the woman living in a hut in front of a toddy shop in Vadamangalam village. The lower court awarded seven years' RI. On an appeal, the PSJ confirmed it. Hence, the present revision.
Confirming the PSJ's order, Mr. Justice Sudanthiram said as regards the plea for showing leniency, as per section 376 IPC (punishment for rape), the minimum punishment was seven years. If it were to be reduced, the court had to provide adequate and special reasons in the judgment.
The judge said he did not find any reason to reduce the sentence. No mercy could be shown to the accused.
