Bombay High Court upholds 10-year sentence for man accused of raping minor wife
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has upheld a 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence for a man convicted of raping his minor wife, affirming that consensual sex with a minor, even within marriage, constitutes rape under Indian law.
The Nagpur Bench, led by Justice G.A. Sanap, clarified that the defence of consensual sex with a minor wife is not legally valid, as the age of consent remains 18. Justice Sanap emphasised, "Sexual intercourse with a girl below 18 years of age is considered rape, whether she is married or not."
According to case details, the accused, a former neighbour of the survivor, allegedly coerced her into a sexual relationship, resulting in pregnancy. Although the two entered into a marriage, their relationship soured, leading the survivor to file a complaint. Reports indicate that the accused initially promised marriage and staged a "marriage ceremony," which the court deemed a farce. Following the marriage, the accused’s behaviour became abusive, reportedly involving physical assault and pressure to undergo an abortion.
The accused later denied paternity, leading the woman to file a police complaint in May 2019. DNA evidence ultimately confirmed the accused as the biological father of the child. The High Court rejected the accused's claim of consensual relations, noting that the survivor was under 18 at the time of the offence.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Biker injured, leopard dies in road accident near forest area in Shivamogga
Shivamogga: A leopard was killed after being hit by a motorcycle near Mandagadde in Thirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district.
According to reports, the biker was travelling from Shivamogga towards Thirthahalli when the leopard suddenly came onto the road from a nearby forest area near Mandagadde. The rider is said to have lost control of the bike and crashed into the animal.
The leopard suffered severe injuries in the impact and died on the spot. The biker also fell onto the road along with the motorcycle and sustained serious injuries. He was shifted to a hospital in Shivamogga for further treatment.
After receiving information about the incident, forest department officials, including Gajanur RFO Vinay Kumar, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.
