A 50-year-old autorickshaw driver has been convicted and sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment by the Thane sessions court on Friday for raping and impregnating a minor aged 16 from Sanpada.
A Jharkhand native, Sitaram Dina Mandal was held on March 4, 2017, for raping the minor at her house in Sector 5, Sanpada.
Public Prosecutor Ujwala Moholkar said, “The minor provided a tiffin service. She was alone while packing food for Mandal when he entered her house. He locked the door and raped her. The accused also threatened to kill her parents if she mentioned the incident to anyone. The victim later gave birth to a boy.”
Constable Vijay Vishay, Sanpada police station, who was involved in the court proceedings, said, “By the time the victim’s parents came to know of the pregnancy, it was too late for an abortion. Intimidated by Mandal’s threats, the victim had hidden the incident from her parents.”
He said seven witnesses, including the complainant’s mother, examining doctor, investigating officers and DNA reports were produced in court. “The child’s DNA matched with the accused, leading to his conviction.”
The accused was arrested under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
