Youth gets 7 yrs jail for raping cousin

A youth has been sentenced to seven years in jail by a fast-track court for raping his cousin after promising her that he would marry her and forcing her to terminate her pregnancy.

A youth has been sentenced to seven years in jail by a fast-track court for raping his cousin after promising her that he would marry her and forcing her to terminate her pregnancy.

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The fast-track court, set up to try sexual offences against women, was lenient towards 22-year-old Delhi resident Jatin Gupta after he said he was willing to marry the girl, and she also prayed for a lenient view in sentence. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on Gupta.

"It is held that the prosecution has successfully proved its case against Gupta beyond any reasonable suspicion or shadow of doubt that he not only committed sexual intercourse with the girl forcibly and repeatedly against her will and made her pregnant, but also compelled her to terminate her pregnancy," additional sessions judge TR Naval said.

The court also rejected Gupta's contention that he and the girl were cousins and their marriage was prohibited.

"Conversely, sexual assault by a person in such relationship is more serious than the assault by strangers as it is the duty of that relative to protect a female and when she is assaulted by such person who is supposed to help her, it is more serious and dangerous," the court said.