Madras HC gives life term to 80-year-old paedophile for raping 3 minor girls
Chennai: “The trauma caused by the act of the accused would be everlasting and the depression out of the trauma will have an impact on the children. Therefore, we are not inclined to interfere with the conviction and sentence imposed on the accused”.
A Division Bench of Madras high court said this while confirming the life sentence awarded to a 80-year-old accused, who raped three children, aged between 10 and 12 in North Chennai in 2010, he was 74 then.
Dismissing an appeal from the accused Somasundaram alias Kanagaraj, challenging an order of Mahila court here awarding life sentence to him, the Bench comprising Justices S. Nagamuthu and V. Bharathidasan said, “From the testimonies of the victim girls coupled with the medical evidence, we are fully convinced that the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. Thus, the trial court was right in convicting the accused”.
According to prosecution, the accused and the victim girls’ families were residing at Washermenpet. On March 1, 2010, after the parents and relatives of the girls left for work, the accused took the first child, aged 12, to his house, offered chocolates, made her watch an obscene video cassette and raped her despite her resistance. Thereafter, he took the other two girls, aged 10 and 11 respectively, separately to his house. Using the same method and gagging their mouths with plasters and tying their hands, he raped them. He also threatened the girls with dire consequences, if they reveal the incident to anyone. The crime came to light when the first victim developed pain in abdomen and was taken to a doctor nearby who said she had been sexually exploited.
Responding to the accused’s submission, Additional public prosecutor M.Maharaja submitted adequate opportunities were given to the accused to cross examine the three victims, but he failed to utilise the same. The bench said a fair trial was not a concept guaranteed only to the accused.
Trial should be fair to the victims and society as well. Recalling the child witnesses at the whims and fancies of the accused may amount to unfair treatment, violative of Article 21 of the Constitution.
