Delhi Court sentences man to life for rape of minor, verdict delivered in 20 days
New Delhi: Tis Hazari Court, Delhi, has sentenced a 45-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape and impregnation of a 16-year-old girl, concluding the case within 20 days of its institution. The verdict was pronounced by the court following proceedings in a matter that came to light earlier this year.
The case emerged on February 25, 2025, when the minor was brought to a hospital with severe abdominal pain. Medical examination revealed she was in labour, and she gave birth shortly after.This resulted in the filing of an FIR at Nihal Vihar police station.
After investigations, the case was officially filed on March 28. The court gave its verdict on April 15 and handed down the sentence the following day, committing the convict to life imprisonment under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Additional Sessions Judge Babita Puniya handed down a life sentence to the 45-year-old man under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, noting that the punishment would extend for the remainder of his natural life. The court also imposed a fine of ₹10,000.
In her sentencing order dated April 16, Judge Puniya observed the significant age difference between the accused and the minor, terming it an aggravating factor. The convict, she noted, was nearly three decades older than the 16-year-old girl, who gave birth to a child as a result of the repeated assault.
The court also observed the fact that the man, who was a frequent guest at the victim's home, well known to her father and addressed by the child as 'uncle' had taken advantage of the helplessness of the girl, indulging in long-term sexual abuse that led to pregnancy. The judge appreciated from the statement the physical and psychological abuse the minor had suffered, noting the tremendous pain she had endured during childbirth at such an early age.
Considering the damage inflicted, the court directed the survivor to be paid a sum of ₹19.5 lakh. Though money could not fully compensate for the emotional and psychological damage, the court hoped that the compensation would enable the little girl to go for education or acquire skills that would be useful for her in the future. Out of the total sum, ₹2 lakh was allocated under the head of mental injury and ₹4 lakh for the trauma of pregnancy.
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Kerala polls: ‘People rejected 10 years of misrule’, says AICC gen secy
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal on Monday said the Congress-led UDF’s sweeping victory in the Kerala Assembly polls was a clear verdict against the “arrogance”, corruption, and nepotism of the CPI(M)-led LDF government headed by CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
Addressing a press conference as counting of votes for all 140 Assembly constituencies neared completion, Venugopal said the outcome reflected public anger against what he termed “10 years of misrule” by the Left government.
He claimed that Vijayan’s victory in his home constituency, Dharmadam, was “only technical”, alleging that the CM trailed the UDF candidate in the initial rounds of counting and failed to secure a majority in his own village.
“He just escaped. He suffered a setback even in his home turf. He was the only person who did not realise the people’s mood in this election,” Venugopal said.
Alleging that the CPI(M) and the LDF had resorted to “communal and opportunistic politics”, he further claimed that the ruling front had entered into a “secret understanding” with the BJP in a bid to retain power for a third consecutive term.
He said that when a government driven by power and arrogance attempts to align with anyone to stay in office, even its own cadre turns against it.
Referring to the results, Venugopal said that while the UDF expected rebel CPI(M) leaders, including K Kunhikrishnan in Payyannur, to impact the vote share, their victories came as a surprise.
Describing the UDF’s performance as a “historic victory”, he attributed it to coordinated teamwork, grassroots mobilisation, and the dedication of party workers, adding that the alliance accepted the mandate “with humility”.
Venugopal also credited Rahul Gandhi’s campaign guarantees, calling them a “trump card” that helped voters focus on real issues and reject what he described as the LDF’s “false narratives”.
He claimed that the Congress witnessed one of its lowest levels of rebellion in this election, which contributed to the alliance’s strong performance.
The senior Congress leader further alleged that the BJP managed to win two seats with the help of the CPI(M), and asserted that forces attempting to divide society on communal lines should “learn a lesson” from Kerala’s verdict.
“This is the real Kerala story,” he said.
On the question of the next Chief Minister, Venugopal said the party leadership would decide at the earliest after due consultations.
The counting of votes began on Monday morning for all 140 Assembly constituencies in Kerala, where the Congress-led UDF secured a decisive majority, defeating the CPI(M)-led LDF, which was seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term in office.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) posts, "Thank you to my brothers and sisters in Keralam for a truly decisive mandate. Congratulations to every UDF leader and worker for a hard-fought, well-run campaign. As I said before, Keralam has the talent, Keralam has the potential… pic.twitter.com/6T4IZbEmp4
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 4, 2026
