HC upholds rape sentence

Delhi High Court has upheld a seven-year sentence awarded to am astrologer for raping an 18-year-old girl, reports Harish V Nair.

Delhi High Court has upheld a seven-year sentence awarded to am astrologer for raping an 18-year-old girl.

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A trial court had in October 2006 found Amar Sarkar guilty of raping Sarita (name changed). The victim, accompanied by her mother, had on June 6, 2005 approached Sarkar, who was known to the family, for advice. After sending the mother out for an errand, raped the girl after telling her that he would give her a precious ruby ring, the chargesheet said.

Sarkar said he had been falsely implicated, as the victim's family was not ready to pay for the ring, which cost Rs 18,000. He alleged that Sarita's maternal uncle, a head constable with Delhi Police, was involved.