Hindutva activist gets 7 years rigorous imprisonment for raping, cheating girlfriend

Mangaluru, Jul 3: A local court has sentenced a 34-year-old man to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for raping and cheating a woman after convicting him for the crime nearly a decade after it took place.

The convict is Umesh, a resident of Narimogaru. He was also a Hindutva activist having close links with several saffron groups.

Umesh, who was employed in a hotel, had befriended a 24-year-old woman who his neighbour, and finally raped her in 2009 promising marriage.

The woman conceived and had a baby girl on March 24, 2010. When she asked him to marry her, he refused. Following this, she filed a complaint of rape and cheating.

A case was first filed at JMFC court in Puttur and later transferred to the sixth district additional and sessions courton. Umesh was booked under IPC 376 and 417.

Judith OM Crasta, public prosecutor, said as many nine witnesses including DNA samples were produced before the court. The DNA samples proved that both (victim and convict) are biological parents of the baby.

Judge Sayeedunisa concluded that Umesh was guilty of rape and cheating. As per IPC 376, Umesh was sentenced to 7-year RI and fined Rs 50,000. He will serve an additional one-year in jail, if he fails to provide the fine amount. Of the fine amount, Rs 40,000 will be given to the rape survivor.

Apart from this, he will also pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the woman’s daughter, which will be deposited as fixed deposit. The rape survivor is also eligible for monthly maintenance and compensation under the District Legal Authority Services.