Elderly man lands in jail for bid to rape minor

A Delhi court sent a 62-year-old man to four years' jail for trying to rape a minor girl, saying that such act would have "far fetched and irreparable consequences in the life of the girl".

Additional Sessions Judge Illa Rawat sentenced Akroor, a resident of north Delhi's Narela, to four years of rigorous imprisonment and said that such nefarious assaults were on the rise and no leniency was called for in the matter.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs.5,000 on the man and also directed him to pay Rs.20,000 compensation to the about three-year-old victim.

"The act of convict, though on face of it, is not gruesome, but has had far fetched and irreparable consequences on the life of a minor girl child," the court.

"The instances of minor girls being victim to such nefarious acts and deeds are on rise and, thus, no leniency is called for in the matter. However, considering the advancing age of the convict, slightly lenient view is taken and I hereby sentence Akroor to undergo rigorous imprisonment of four years."

Akroor had sought leniency on the ground of his old age.

The incident took place Aug 11, 2012 when the girl had gone to the house of Akroor, who was her neighbour, to play, the prosecution said.