Man gets seven years jail for raping minor

A court here Thursday sentenced a 25-year-old youth to seven years' jail for kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old girl after performing a sham marriage, saying he spoilt the victim's life.

Additional Sessions Judge Illa Rawat convicted Satender Chauhan for kidnapping a minor girl to compel her for marriage and raping her, noting he did not disclose the fact that he was already married.

Chauhan had performed a sham marriage with the victim and raped her.

The court said that Chauhan not only cheated his own wife, but also spoilt the life of a minor innocent girl.

By performing a "sham marriage ceremony" with the girl at a temple, Chauhan created an illusion in her mind that they were married and under the garb of consensual sexual relationship, he raped her for 12 days, it said.

"Since the convict did not have any regard for his wife and child, when he was pursuing and inducing a minor girl to marry him, he is not entitled to a lenient view by taking plea that he being the sole earning member, is required to discharge his responsibility towards his wife, minor child and other family members," the court said.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs.9,000 on him.

It directed the Delhi government to pay a compensation of Rs.1 lakh to the girl for her welfare and rehabilitation.

According to police, a missing complaint was lodged by the girl's father Nov 13, 2011 when his daughter, who had gone to market, did not return. The girl had told the court that Chauhan was her neighbour earlier when he befriended her and on Nov 10, 2011 when she was going to the market, she met him and went off with him when he asked her to marry him.