Alwar gang-rape case: 4 sentenced to life imprisonment till natural death

A special court in Rajasthan's Alwar district on Tuesday convicted and awarded rigorous life imprisonment to four men for the gangrape of a woman in 2019.

The court also awarded five years imprisonment to the fifth culprit under the IT act for circulating a video clip of the incident.

The rigorous life imprisonment until natural death was awarded to Hansraj Gurjar, Ashok Gujar, Chhotelal Gurjar and Indraj Gurjar for gangrape by the special court that deals with cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

All of them were charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the SC/ST Act and IT Act, said public prosecutor Kuldeep Jain.

He said Hansraj was convicted under an additional section of the IPC for repeated rape.

The court sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment till the time of natural death, Jain said.

The incident took place on April 26 last year when the four men raped the woman in front of her husband at an isolated place on the Thanagazi-Alwar bypass in Rajasthan. The four had gangraped the woman, extorted money and filmed the video of the incident.

The FIR in the case was registered on May 2. The case had triggered widespread protest and was condemned across the country.

Fifth culprit Mukesh Gurjar, who had circulated the video clip, was convicted under sections of IT and was awarded a maximum of five years imprisonment, Jain said.

He said there is one more accused, who is minor, and his trial is going on in a juvenile court.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot welcomed the judgement saying it sets an example of how swift inquiry can lead to justice being delivered in a short span of time.

All investigating officers, police and administrative officials in this case deserve appreciation. State government is committed to ensure no crime goes unpunished and all cases get a fair, thorough and speedy trial, Gehlot tweeted.